Forest-edge effects on sea-salt aerosol deposition : a wind-tunnel study using living oak leaves

• Landscape patchiness creates aerodynamic transitions zones that affect the exchange of nutrients and pollutants between the atmosphere and vegetation. Using an artificially generated NaCl aerosol, with its mass-versus-particle-size distribution characterised by an aerodynamic mean particle diameter of 1.6 µm and a geometrical standard deviation of 1.9, we investigate the forest-edge effect on aerosol deposition within a model oak (Quercus robur L.) canopy in a wind tunnel with a smooth up-wind surface, and provide quantitative estimates of deposition rates within the emulated beach-to-forest transition. The deposition rate is maximal around the forest edge with an enhancement factor in relation to the beach deposition of 2.4 for Cl- and 2.0 for Na+. Results are in reasonable agreement with those obtained from deposition models, field studies, and other wind-tunnel based investigations. We find a tendency towards an edge effect also at the downwind forest end, which is in support of model predictions. Estimates of deposition velocities at the edge are 0.06 cms-1 and 0.05 cms-1 for Cl- and Na+, respectively. Because of the edge effect the model forest’s deposition velocity is enhanced, being 1.4 times higher around the edge in comparison with the entire forest. This suggests that field measurements of deposition in the interior of a forest “island” in an otherwise open landscape would underestimate the deposition to the entire forest. Our results can help improve estimates of aerosol-borne inputs of nutrients or pollutants to forests that would experience shifts in meteorological regimes due to changes in climate and forestry practices, in particular with respect to deciduous species in coastal environments where forest-edge effects might be substantial. 

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

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

Nyckelord

Quercus robur

deposition velocity

wind tunnel

sea/land transition

atmosphere/canopy exchange

NATURAL SCIENCES

NATURVETENSKAP

Natural Resources Management

Naturresurshushållning

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