Document Type
Article
Date
7-15-2021
Keywords
acidification, acid deposition, biogeochemistry, calcium, critical loads, forest soil, watershed, weathering
Language
English
Funder(s)
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Funding ID
16299, 50771
Disciplines
Biogeochemistry | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Forest Management | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Other Forestry and Forest Sciences | Soil Science | Sustainability
Description/Abstract
Chemical weathering of minerals is the principal mechanism by which base cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+) are released and acidity is neutralized in soils, bedrock and drainage waters. Quantifying the release of base cations from watershed soils is therefore crucial for the calculation of “critical loads” of atmospheric acidity to forest ecosystems. We used a mass-balance approach to estimate the rate of release of base cations in 25 headwater catchments in the Catskill region of New York, an area historically subject to high inputs of acid deposition. In 2010-2013, total net base cation release via geochemical processes averaged 1704 eq ha-1 yr-1 (range: 928-2622). Calcium accounted for 58% of this total, averaging 498 mol ha-1 yr-1 (range: 209-815). Mass balance estimates of net geochemical release of base cations were most strongly driven by stream export and biomass uptake fluxes, with only minor contributions from precipitation. Documented rates of base cation depletion from soil exchange sites in the region were also small relative to the net geochemical release rates. We observed a significant influence of bedrock type on net base cation release rates (P = 0.002), and a weak but significant negative correlation with watershed elevation (r = -0.51). Relationships with other geographic factors such as aspect and watershed size were not significant. Net base cation release was 4.5 times higher than precipitation inputs of SO42- and NO3-, suggesting that sources of acidity internal to the watershed are now more important drivers of weathering than acid deposition. Our data suggest that release of base cations from most Catskill forest soils is sufficient to neutralize existing inputs of acidity.
Recommended Citation
Nieman, SC and Johnson, CE (2021) Net geochemical release of base cations from 25 forested watersheds in the Catskill region of New York. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 4:667605. doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2021.667605.
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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Included in
Biogeochemistry Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Forest Management Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Other Forestry and Forest Sciences Commons, Soil Science Commons, Sustainability Commons
