Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Acidic Deposition, Ecosystem Processes, And Nitrogen Saturation In A High Elevation Southern Appalachian Watershed, C. S. Nodvin, H. Van Miegroet, S. E. Lindberg, N. S. Nicholas, D. W. Johnson

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

High-elevation red spruce-Fraser fir forests in the Southern Appalachian mountains: 1) receive among the highest rates of atmospheric deposition measured in North America, 2) contain old-growth forests, 3) have shown declines in forest health, 4) have sustained high insect-caused fir mortality, and 5) contain poorly buffered soils and stream systems. High rates of nitrogen and sulphur deposition (sim1900 and sim2200 Eq·ha–1·yr–1, respectively) are dominated by dry and cloud deposition processes. Large leaching fluxes of nitrate-nitrogen (100–1400 Eq·ha–1·yr–1) occur within the soil profile. We have expanded the study to the watershed scale with monitoring of: precipitation, throughfall, stream hydrology, and stream …