Nitrogen deposition in forests: Statistical modeling of total deposition from throughfall loads

• Introduction: Nitrogen (N) gradient studies in some cases use N deposition inthroughfall as measure of N deposition to forests.For evaluating critical loadsof N, however, information on total N deposition is required, i.e., the sum ofestimates of dry, wet and occult deposition.Methods: The present paper collects a number of studies in Europe wherethroughfall and total N deposition were compared in different forest types.From this dataset a function was derived which allows to estimate total Ndeposition from throughfall N deposition.Results: At low throughfall N deposition values, the proportion of canopyuptake is high and thus the underestimation of total deposition by throughfallN needs to be corrected.At throughfall N deposition values > 20 kg Nha?1 yr?1 canopy uptake is getting less important.Conclusion: This work shows that throughfall clearly underestimates totaldeposition of nitrogen. With the present data set covering large parts of Europe it is possible to derive a critical load estimate from gradient studiesusing throughfall data.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Annan geovetenskap och miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Other Earth and Related Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

total nitrogen deposition

throughfall

critical loads of nitrogen

canopy uptake

dry deposition of nitrogen

forests

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)