Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sulphate, Nitrogen and Base Cation Budgets at 21 Forested Catchments in Canada, the United States and Europe

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To assess the concern over declining base cation levels in forest soils caused by acid deposition, input-output budgets (1990s average) for sulphate (SO4), inorganic nitrogen (NO3-N; NH4-N), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) were synthesised for 21 forested catchments from 17 regions in Canada, the United States and Europe. Trend analysis was conducted on monthly ion concentrations in deposition and runoff when more than 9 years of data were available (14 regions, 17 sites). Annual average SO4 deposition during the 1990s ranged between 7.3 and 28.4 kg ha−1 per year, and inorganic nitrogen (N) deposition was between 2.8 and 13.8 kg ha−1 per year, of which 41–67% was nitrate (NO3-N). Over the period of record, SO4 concentration in deposition decreased in 13/14 (13 out of 14 total) regions and SO4 in runoff decreased at 14/17 catchments. In contrast, NO3-N concentrations in deposition decreased in only 1/14 regions, while NH4-N concentration patterns varied; increasing at 3/14 regions and decreasing at 2/14 regions. Nitrate concentrations in runoff decreased at 4/17 catchments and increased at only 1 site, whereas runoff levels of NH4-N increased at 5/17 catchments. Decreasing trends in deposition were also recorded for Ca, Mg, and K at many of the catchments and on an equivalent basis, accounted for up to 131% (median 22%) of the decrease in acid anion deposition. Base cation concentrations in streams generally declined over time, with significant decreases in Ca, Mg and K occurring at 8, 9 and 7 of 17 sites respectively, which accounted for up to 133% (median 48%) of the decrease in acid anion concentration. Sulphate export exceeded input at 18/21 catchments, likely due to dry deposition and/or internal sources. The majority of N in deposition (31–100%; median 94%) was retained in the catchments, although there was a tendency for greater NO3-N leaching at sites receiving higher (<7 kg ha-1 per year) bulk inorganic N deposition. Mass balance calculations show that export of Ca and Mg in runoff exceeds input at all 21 catchments, but K export only exceeds input at 16/21 sites. Estimates of base cation weathering were available for 18 sites. When included in the mass balance calculation, Ca, Mg and K exports exceeded inputs at 14, 10 and 2 sites respectively. Annual Ca and Mg losses represent appreciable proportions of the current exchangeable soil Ca and Mg pools, although losses at some of the sites likely occur from weathering reactions beneath the rooting zone and there is considerable uncertainty associated with mineral weathering estimates. Critical loads for sulphur (S) and N, using a critical base cation to aluminium ratio of 10 in soil solution, are currently exceeded at 7 of the 18 sites with base cation weathering estimates. Despite reductions in SO4 and H+ deposition, mass balance estimates indicate that acid deposition continues to acidify soils in many regions with losses of Ca and Mg of primary concern.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aber, J. D., Nadelhoffer, K. J., Steudler P. and Melillo, J. M.: 1989, ‘Nitrogen saturation in northern forest ecosystems’, BioScience 39, 378–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alewell, C.: 2001, ‘Predicting reversibility of acidification: The European sulphur story’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 130, 1271–1276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alewell, C., Bredemeier, M., Matzner, E. and Blanck, K.: 1997, ‘Soil solution response to experimentally reduced acid deposition in a forest ecosystem’, J. Environ. Qual. 26, 658–665.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alewell, C., Mitchell, M., Likens, G. E. and Krouse, R. H.: 1999, ‘Sources of stream sulfate at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: Long-term analyses using stable isotopes’, Biogeochem. 44, 281–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alewell, C., Manderscheid, B., Meesenburg, H. and Bittersohl, J.: 2000a, ‘Is acidification still an ecological threat?’, Nature 407, 856–857.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alewell, C., Manderscheid, B., Gerstberger P. and Matzner, E.: 2000b, ‘Effects of reduced atmospheric deposition on soil solution chemistry and elemental contents of spruce needles in NE-Bavaria, Germany’, J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 163, 509–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alewell, C., Armbruster, M., Bittersohl, J., Evans, C. D., Meesenburg, H., Moritz, K. and Prechtel, A.: 2001, ‘Are there signs of acidification reversal after two decades of reduced acid input in the low mountain ranges of Germany?’, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 5, 367–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armbruster, M.: 1998, ‘Zeitliche Dynamik der Wasser- und Elementflüsse in Waldökosystemen’, Freiburger Bodenkundl. Abhandl. 38, 1–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, S. W., Hornbeck, J. W., Driscoll, C. T. and Gaudette, H. E.: 1996, ‘Calcium inputs and transport in a base-poor forest ecosystem as interpreted by Sr isotopes’, Wat. Resour. Res. 32, 707–719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, S. W., Mayer, B. and Mitchell, M. J.: 2004, ‘The influence of mineral weathering on drainage water sulfate in the northeastern United States’, Hydrol. Process. 18, 1639–1653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayley, S. E., Schindler, D. W., Beaty, K. G., Parker, B. R. and Stainton, M. P.: 1992, ‘Effects of multiple fires on nutrient yields from streams draining Boreal forest and fen watersheds: Nitrogen and phosphorus’, Can. J. For. Res. 49, 584–596.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beall, F. D., Semkin, R. G. and Jeffries, D. S.: 2001, ‘Trends in the output of first-order basins at Turkey Lakes Watershed, 1982–1996’, Ecosystems 4, 514–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernier, B. and Brazeau, M.: 1988, ‘Foliar nutrient status in relation to sugar maple dieback and decline in the Quebec Appalachians’, Can. J. For. Res. 18, 754–761.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bondietti, E. A., Baes, C. F. and McLaughlin, S. B.: 1989, ‘Radial trends in cation ratios in tree rings as indicators of the impact of atmospheric deposition on forests’, Can. J. For. Res. 19, 586– 594.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bredmeier, M., Blanck, K., Lamersdorf, N. and Wiedey, G. A.: 1995, ‘Response of soil water chemistry to experimental ‘clean rain’ in the NITREX roof experiment at Solling, Germany’, For. Ecol. Manage. 71, 31–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bringmark, L. and Kvarnas, H.: 1995, ‘Leaching of nitrogen from small forested catchments having different deposition and different stores of nitrogen’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 85, 1167–1172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. L., Hornbeck, J. W., Mitchell, M. J., Adams, M. B., Castro, M. S., Droscoll, C. T., Kahl, J. S., Kochenderfer, J. N., Likens, G. E., Lynch, J. A., Murdoch, P. S., Nelson, S. J., Shanley, J. B.: 2004, ‘Input-output budgets of inorganic nitrogen for 24 forested watersheds in the northeastern United States: A review’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 151, 373–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clair, T. A., Dillon, P. J., Ion, J., Jeffries, D. S., Papineau, M. and Vet, R. J.: 1995, ‘Regional precipitation and surface water chemistry trends in southeastern Canada (1983–1991)’, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 52, 197–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cosby, B. J., Hornberger, G. M., Galloway, J. N. and Wright, R. F.: 1985, ‘Timescales of catchment acidification’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 1144–1149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Creed, I. F. and Band, L. E.: 1998, ‘Exploring functional similarity in the export of nitrate-N from forested catchments: A mechanistic modeling approach’, Wat. Resour. Res. 34, 3079–3093.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeHayes, D. H., Schaberg, P. G., Hawley, G. J. and Strimbeck, G. R.: 1999, ‘Acid rain impacts on calcium nutrition and forest health’, BioScience 49, 789–800.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devito, K. J., Westbrook, C. and Schiff, S. L.: 1999, ‘Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in upland and peatland forest soils in two Canadian Shield catchments’, Can. J. For. Res. 29, 1793–1804.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devito, K. J. and Hill, A. R.: 1999, ‘Sulphate mobilization and pore water chemistry in relation to groundwater hydrology and summer drought in two conifer swamps on the Canadian Shield’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 113, 97–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon, P. J. and LaZerte, B. D.: 1992, ‘Response of the Plastic Lake catchment, Ontario, to reduced sulphur deposition. Environ. Pollut. 77, 211–217.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dise, N. B., Matzner, E. and Gundersen, P.: 1998, ‘Synthesis of nitrogen pools and fluxes from European ecosystems’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 105, 143–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dise, N. B. and Wright, R. F.: 1995, ‘Nitrogen leaching from European forests in relation to nitrogen deposition’, For. Ecol. Manage. 71, 153–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Draaijers, G. P. J., van Leeuwen, E. P., de Jong, P. G. H. and Erisman, J. W.: 1997a, ‘Base cation deposition in Europe – Part I. Model description, results and uncertainties’, Atmos. Environ. 31, 4139– 4157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Draaijers, G. P. J., van Leeuwen, E. P., de Jong, P. G. H. and Erisman, J. W.: 1997b, ‘Base–cation deposition in Europe – Part II. Acid neutralization capacity and contribution to forest nutrition’, Atmos. Environ. 31, 4159–4168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll, C. T., Lawrence, C. B., Bulger, A. J., Butler, T. J., Cronan, C. S., Eagar, C., Lambert, K. F., Likens, G. E., Stoddard, J. L. and Weathers, K. C.: 2001, ‘Acidic deposition in the northeastern United States: sources and inputs, ecosystem effects, and management strategies’, BioScience 51, 180–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll, C. T., Postek, K. M., Kretser, W. and Raynal, D. J.: 1995, ‘Long-term trends in the chemistry of precipitation and lake water in the Adirondack region of New York, U.S.A.’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 85, 583–588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchesne, L., Ouimet, R. and Houle, D.: 2002, ‘Basal area growth of sugar maple in relation to acid deposition, stand health, and soil nutrients’, J. Environ. Qual. 31,1676–1683.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, P. J., Gregory, J. D. and Lee, A. H.: 1999, ‘Seasonal sulfate deposition and export patterns for a small Appalachian watershed’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 110, 137–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eimers, M. C., Dillon, P. J. and Watmough, S. A.: 2004, ‘Long-term (18-year) changes in sulphate concentrations in 2 Ontario headwater lakes and their inflows in response to decreasing deposition and climate variations’, Hydrol. Process. 18, 2617–2630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eimers, M. C. and Dillon, P. J.: 2002, ‘Climate effects on sulphate flux from forested catchments in south-central Ontario’, Biogeochem. 61, 337–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EMEP.: 2001, ‘Transboundary Acid Deposition in Europe. EMEP Summary Report 2001’, EMEP/CCC and MSC-W Report 1/2001, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway.

  • Erisman, J., Grennfelt, P. and Sutton, M.: 2003, ‘The European perspective on nitrogen emission and deposition’. Environ. Internat. 29, 311–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, C. D., Cullen, J. M., Alewell, C., Marchetto, A., Moldan, F., Kopáĉek, J., Prechtel, A., Rogora, M., Vesely, J. and Wright, R.: 2001, ‘Recovery from acidification in European surface Waters’, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 5, 283–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez, I. J., Rustad, L. E., Norton, S. A., Kahl, J. S. and Cosby, B. J.: 2003, ‘Experimental acidification causes soil base cation depletion in a New England forested watershed’, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 67, 1909–1919.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forsius, M., Kleemola, S., Vuorenmaa, J. and Syri, S.: 2001, ‘Fluxes and trends of nitrogen and sulphur compounds at integrated monitoring sites in Europe’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 130, 1641– 1648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster, N. W., Mitchell, M. J., Morrison, I. K. and Shepard, J. P.: 1992, ‘Cycling of acid and base cations in deciduous stands of Huntington Forest, New York, and Turkey Lakes, Ontario’, Can. J. For. Res. 22, 167–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gimeno, L., Marin, E., del Teso, T. and Bourhim, S.: 2001, ‘How effective has been the reduction of SO2 emissions on the effect of acid rain on ecosystems?’, Sci. Tot. Environ. 275, 63–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gundersen, P., Callesen, I. and de Vries, W.: 1998, ‘Nitrate leaching in forest ecosystems is controlled by forest floor C/N ratio’, Environ. Pollut. 102, 403–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harriman, R., Watt, A. W., Christie, A. E. G., Collen, P., Moore, D. W., McCartney, A. G., Taylor, E. M. and Watson, J.: 2001, ‘Interpretation of trends in acidic deposition and surface water chemsitry in Scotland during the past three decades’, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 5, 407–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedin, L. O., Granat, L., Likens, G. E., Buishand, T. A., Galloway, J. N., Butler, T. J. and Rodhe, H.: 1994, ‘Steep declines in atmospheric base cations in regions of North America’, Nature 367, 351–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen, A., Hindar, A., Hessen, D. O. and Kaste, O.: 1997, ‘Contribution of nitrogen to acidity in the Bjerkreim River in southwestern Norway’, Ambio 26, 304–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, R. M. and Slack, J. R.: 1984, ‘A nonparametric trend test for seasonal data with serial dependence’, Wat. Resour. Res. 20, 727–732.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodson, M. E. and Langan, S. J.: 1999, ‘Considerations of uncertainty in setting critical loads of acidity of soils: The role of weathering rate determination’, Environ. Pollut. 106, 73–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horsley, S. B., Long, R. P., Bailey, S. W., Hallett, R. A. and Hall, T. J.: 2000, ‘Factors associated with the decline disease of sugar maple on the Allegheny Plateau’, Can. J. For. Res. 30, 1365–1378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houle, D., Paquin, R., Camire, C., Ouimet, R. and Duchesne, L.: 1997, ‘Response of the Lake Clair watershed (Duchesnay, Quebec) to changes in precipitation chemistry (1988–1994)’, Can. J. For. Res. 27, 1813–1821.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houle, D. and Carignan, R.: 1995, ‘Role of SO4 adsorption and desorption in the long–term S budget of a coniferous catchment on the Canadian Shield’, Biogeochem. 28, 162–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ito, M., Mitchell, M. J. and Driscoll, C. T.: 2002, ‘Spatial patterns of precipitation quality and chemistry and air temperature in the Adirondack region of New York’, Atmos. Environ. 36, 1051–1062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jandl, R., Alewell, C. and Prietzel, J.: 2004, ‘Ca loss in Central European forest soils’, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 68, 588–595.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jefts, S., Fernandez, I. J., Rustad, L. E. and Dail, B.: 2004, ‘Decadal responses in soil N dynamics at the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine U.S.A.’, For. Ecol. and Manage. 189, 189–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, M. and Jagels, R.: 1999, ‘Detection and quantification of changes in membrane-associated calcium in red spruce saplings exposed to acid fog’, Tree Physiol. 19, 909–916.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C. E., Driscoll, C. T., Siccama, T. G. and Likens, G. E.: 2000, ‘Element fluxes and landscape position in a northern hardwood forest watershed ecosystem’, Ecosystems 3, 159–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, W., Dixit, S. S. and Heneberry, J.: 2001, ‘Calcium declines in northeastern Ontario lakes’, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58, 2011–2020.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirchner, J. W. and Lydersen, E.: 1995, ‘Base cation depletion and potential long-term acidification of Norwegian catchments’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 29, 1953–1960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirchner, J. W., Dillon, P. J. and LaZerte, B.D.: 1992, ‘Predicted response of stream chemistry to acid loading tested in Canadian catchments’, Nature 358, 478–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, T. E. and McCormick, L.H.: 1993, ‘Etiology of sugar maple decline in four Pennsylvania stands’, Can. J. For. Res. 23, 2395–2402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolka, R. K., Grigal, D. F. and Nater, E. A.: 1996, ‘Forest soil mineral weathering rates: Use of multiple approaches’, Geoderma 73, 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopacek, J., Vesely, J. and Stuchlik, E.: 2001, ‘Sulphur and nitrogen fluxes and budgets in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains during the Industrial Revolution (1850–2000)’, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 5, 391–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamersdorf, N. P., Beier, C., Blanck, K., Bredemeier, M., Cummins, T., Farrell, E. P., Kretzer, K., Rasmussen, L., Ryan, M., Weis, W. and Xu, Y. J.: 1998, ‘Effect of drought experiments using roof installations on acidification/nitrification of soils’, For. Ecol. Manage. 101, 95–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langan, S. J., Reynolds, B. and Bain, D. C.: 1996, ‘The calculation of base cation release from mineral weathering in soils derived from Palaeozoic greywackes and shales in upland UK’, Geoderma 69, 275–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larssen, T., Clarke, N., Tørseth, K. and Skjelkvåle, B. L.: 2002, ‘Prognoses for future acidification recovery of water, soils and forests: Dynamic modeling of Norwegian data from ICP Forests, ICP IM and ICP Waters’, SNO 4577-2002, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo. p. 38.

  • Lawrence, G. B., Lovett, G. M. and Baevsky, Y. H.: 2000, ‘Atmospheric deposition and watershed nitrogen export along an elevational gradient in the Catskill Mountains, New York’, Biogeochem. 50, 21–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, G. B., David, M. B., Bailey, S. W. and Shortle, W. C.: 1997, ‘Assessment of soil calcium status in red spruce forests in the northeastern United States’, Biogeochem. 38, 19–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaZerte, B. D. and Scott, L.: 1996, ‘Soil water leachate from two forested catchments on the Precambrian Shield’, Can. J. For. Res. 26, 1353–1365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Likens, G. E., Driscoll, C. T. and Buso, D. C.: 1996, ‘Long-term effects of acid rain: Response and recovery of a forest ecosystem’, Science 272, 244–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lofgren, S., Bringmark, L., Aastrup, M., Hultberg, H., Kindbom and Kvarnas, H.: 2001, ‘Sulphur balances and dynamics in three forested catchments in Sweden’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 130, 631–636.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lokke, H., Bak, J., Falkengren-Grerup, U., Finlay, R. D., Ilvensniemi, H., Nygaard, P.H. and Starr, M.: 1996, ‘Critical loads of acidic deposition for forest soils: Is the current approach adequate?’, Ambio 25, 510–516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, G. M., Weathers, K. C. and Arthur, M. A.: 2002, ‘Control of nitrogen loss from forested watersheds by soil carbon:nitrogen ratio and tree species composition’, Ecosystems 5, 712–718.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, G. M., Weathers, K. C. and Sobczak, W. V.: 2000, ‘Nitrogen saturation and retention in forested watersheds of the Catskill Mountains, New York’, Ecol. Appl. 10, 73–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, E. K., Blum, J. D. and Friedland, A. J.: 1993, ‘Determination of soil exchangeable-cation loss and weathering rates using Sr isotopes’, Nature 362, 438–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, M. J., Driscoll, C. T., Kahl, J. S., Likens, G. E., Murdoch, P. S. and Pardo, L. H.: 1996, ‘Climatic control of nitrate loss from forested watersheds in the northeast United States’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 30, 2609–2612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, M. J., Raynal, D. J. and Driscoll, C. T.: 1992, ‘Biogeochemistry of a forested watershed in the central Adirondack Mountains: Temporal changes and mass balances’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 88, 355–369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moldan, F., Skeffington, R. A., Morth, C. M., Torssander, P., Hultberg, H. and Munthe, J.: 2004, ‘Results from the covered catchment experiment at Gardsjon, Sweden, after ten years of clean precipitation treatment’ Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 154, 371–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moritz, K., Bittersohl, J., Müller, F. X. and Krebs, M.: 1994, ‘Auswirkungen des Sauren Regens und des Waldsterbens auf das Grundwasser, Dokumentation der Methoden und Meß daten des Entwicklungsvorhabens 1988–1992’. Bayer. Landesamt für Wasserwirtschaft, München, Eigenverlag, Materialien Nr. 40.

  • NEG/ECP Forest Mapping Group.: 2001, ‘Critical load of sulphur and nitrogen assessment and mapping protocol for upland forests’, New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, Acid Rain Action Plan, Halifax, Canada.

  • Nilsson, P. and Grennfelt, J: 1988, ‘Critical loads for sulphur and nitrogen’, Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Norton, S. A. and Fernandez, I. J.: 1999 (eds.).: 1999, The Bear Brook Watershed in Maine – A Paired Watershed Experiment – The First Decade (1987–1997), Kluwer Academic Publishers. Boston. p. 250.

  • Park, J. H., Mitchell, M. J., McHale, P. J., Christopher, S. F. and Myers, T. P.: 2003, ‘Impacts of changing climate and atmospheric deposition on N and S drainage losses from a forested watershed of the Adirondack Mountains, New York State’, Global Change Biol. 9, 1602–1619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posch, M., de Smet, P. A. M., Hettelingh, J. P. and Downing, R. J.: 2001, ‘Calculation and mapping of critical thresholds in Europe’, Status Report 1995, Coordination Center for Effects, Bilthoven, the Netherlands, RIVM Report No. 259101004, ISBN No. 90-6960-060-9.

  • Prechtel, A., Alewell, C., Armbruster, M., Bittersohl, J., Cullen, J. M., Evans, C. D., Helliwell, R., Kopacek, J., Marchetto, A., Matzner, E., Meesenburg, H., Moldan, F., Moritz, K., Vesely, J. and Wright, R. F.: 2001, ‘Response of sulphur dynamics in European catchments to decreasing sulphate deposition’, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 5, 311–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raper, D. W. and Lee, D. S.: 1996, ‘Wet deposition at the sub-20 km scale in a rural upland area of England’, Atmos. Environ. 30, 1193–1297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sah, S. P. and Meiwes, K. J.: 1993, ‘Sulfur input and outputs for two European beech forests growing on different soil substrates’, Can. J. For. Res. 23, 1626–1630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiff, S. L., Devito, K. J., Elgood, R. J., McCrindle, P. M., Spoelstra, J. and Dillon, P. J.: 2002, ‘Two adjacent forested catchments: Dramatically different NO3− export’, Wat. Resour. Res. 38, 1292–1305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, P. K.: 1968, ‘Estimates of the regression coefficient base on Kendall's Tau’, J. Amer. Statis. Assn. 63, 1379–1389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, J. P., Mitchell, M. J., Scott, T. J., Zhang, Y. M. and Raynal, D. J.: 1989, ‘Measurements of wet and dry deposition in a northern hardwood forest’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 48, 225– 238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shortle, W. C., Smith, K. T., Minocha, R. and Alexeyev, V. A.: 1995, ‘Similar patterns of change in stemwood calcium in red spruce and Siberian fir’, J. Biogeog. 22, 467–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shortle, W. C. and Smith, K. T.: 1988, ‘Aluminium-induced calcium deficiency syndrome in declining red spruce’, Science 240, 1017–1018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skeffington, R. A.: 1999, ‘The use of critical loads in environmental policy making: A critical appraisal’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 33, 245–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stainton, M. P., Capel, M. J. and Armstrong, F. A. J.: 1977, The Chemical Analysis of Fresh Water, 2nd edn. Can. Fish. Mar. Serv. Misc. Spec. Publ. 25: p. 180.

  • Starr, M., Lindroos, A. J., Tarvainen, T. and Tanskanen, H.: 1998, ‘Weathering rates in the Hietajarvi Integrated Monitoring Catchment’, Boreal Environ. Res. 3, 275–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoddard, J. L., Traaen, T. S. and Skjelkvale, B. L.: 2001, ‘Assessment of nitrogen leaching at ICP-Waters sites (Europe and North America)’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 130, 781–786.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoddard, J. L., Jeffries, D. S., Lukewille, A., Claire, T. A., Dillon, P. J., Driscoll, C. T., Forsius, M., Johannessen, M., Kahl, J. S., Kellogg, J. H., Kemp, A., Mannio, J., Monteith, D. T., Murdoch, P.~S., Patrick, S., Rebsdorf, A., Skjelkuale, B. L., Stainton, M. P., Traaen, T., Dam, van H., Webster, K. E., Wieting, J., Wilander, A.: 1999, ‘Regional trends in aquatic recovery from acidification in North America and Europe’, Nature 401, 575–578.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sverdrup, H., Warfvinge, P. and Wickman, T.: 1998, ‘Estimating the Weathering Rate at Gardsjon Using Different Methods. in: H. Hultberg and R. Skeffington (Eds.), Experimental Reversal Of Acid Rain Effects: The Gardsjon Roof Project’ Wiley, U.K., pp 231–249.

  • Tomlinson, G. H.: 2003, ‘Acidic deposition, nutrient leaching and forest growth’, Biogeochem. 65, 51–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torseth, K., Hanssen, J. E. and Semb, A.: 1999, ‘Temporal and spatial variations in airborne Mg, Cl, Na, Ca and K in rural areas of Norway’, Sci. Tot. Environ. 234, 75–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warfvinge, P. and Sverdrup, H.: 1992, ‘Calculating critical loads of acid deposition with PROFILE: A steady-state soil chemistry model’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 63, 119–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watmough, S. A. and Dillon, P. J.: 2004, ‘Major element fluxes from a coniferous catchment in central Ontario, 1983–1999’, Biogeochem. 67, 369–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watmough, S. A., Eimers, M. C., Aherne, J. and Dillon, P. J.: 2004, ‘Climate effects on nitrate export from forested catchments in south-central Ontario’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 38, 2383–2388.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watmough, S. A. and Dillon, P. J.: 2003a, ‘Calcium losses from a forested catchment in south central Ontario, Canada’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 37, 3085–3089.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watmough, S. A. and Dillon, P. J.: 2003b, ‘Base cation and nitrogen budgets for seven forested catchments in south-central Ontario, 1983–1999’, For. Ecol. Manage. 177, 155–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watmough, S. A. and Dillon, P. J.: 2003c, ‘Base cation and nitrogen budgets for a mixed hardwood catchment in south-central Ontario’, Ecosystems 6, 675–693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watmough, S. A., Aherne, J. and Dillon, P. J.: 2003, ‘The potential impact of harvesting on lake chemistry in south-central Ontario at current levels of acid deposition’, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 60, 1095–1103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watmough, S. A.: 2002, ‘A dendrochemical survey of sugar maple in south-central Ontario’, Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 136, 165–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, R. F., Alewell, C., Cullen, J., Evans, C. D., Marchetto, A., Moldan, F., Prechtel, A. and Rogora, M.: 2001, ‘Trends in nitrogen deposition and leaching in acid-sensitive streams in Europe’, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 5, 299–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, R. F. and Jenkins, A.: 2001, ‘Climate change as a confounding factor in reversibility of acidification: RAIN and CLIMEX projects’, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 5, 477–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanni, S., Keys, K., Meng, F. -R., Yin, X., Clair, T. and Arp P.: 2000, ‘Modelling hydrological conditions in the maritime forest region of south western Nova Scotia’, Hydrol. Process. 14, 195–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

    Shaun A. Watmough, Julian Aherne, Peter Dillon & Catherine Eimers

  2. Institute of Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Christine Alewell

  3. University of New Brunswick Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

    Paul Arp

  4. Northeastern Research Station, Durham, New Hampshire, U.S.A.

    Scott Bailey

  5. Environmental Conservation Branch, Environment Canada, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada

    Tom Clair

  6. Direction de la Recherche Forestière, Ministère des Ressources Naturelles, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, Québec, Canada

    Louis Duchesne

  7. Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, U.S.A.

    Ivan Fernandez

  8. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

    Neil Foster

  9. Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway

    Thorjorn Larssen

  10. Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S.A.

    Eric Miller

  11. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, SUNY, Syracuse, New York, U.S.A.

    Myron Mitchell

  12. Government of Canada, University Crescent, Winnipeg, Canada

    Stephen Page

Authors
  1. Shaun A. Watmough
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julian Aherne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christine Alewell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paul Arp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Scott Bailey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tom Clair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Peter Dillon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Louis Duchesne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Catherine Eimers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Ivan Fernandez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Neil Foster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Thorjorn Larssen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Eric Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Myron Mitchell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Stephen Page
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaun A. Watmough.

Additional information

The U.S. Government's right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged.

The Canadian Crown reserves the right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Watmough, S.A., Aherne, J., Alewell, C. et al. Sulphate, Nitrogen and Base Cation Budgets at 21 Forested Catchments in Canada, the United States and Europe. Environ Monit Assess 109, 1–36 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-4336-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-4336-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation