Abstract
Acid precipitation is defined as rain or snow having a pH of less than 5.6. The pH parameter is a measurement of the difference in hydrogen ion activity between an unknown solution and a standard buffer of assigned pH value. Upon ionization water yields hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. When the activity of these ions is equal, water is neutral and the pH recorded will be 7. At pH values below 7 water becomes increasingly acid, and above 7 increasingly alkaline. In the absence of air pollutants, the pH of precipitation is presumed to be dominated by carbonic acid formed from ambient carbon dioxide, which produces a pH of approximately 5.6–6.0. The pH of precipitation presently falling in North and Central Europe and in the northeastern United States and adjacent portions of Canada is commonly in the range of 3–5.5. Individual storm events have been recorded with pH values between 2.0 and 3.0.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Abrahamsen, G., R. Homtveldt, and B. Tveite. 1976a. Impacts of acid precipitation on coniferous forest ecosystems. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 991–1009.
Abrahamsen, G., K. Bjor, R. Homtveldt, and B. Tveite. 1976b. Effects of acid precipitation on coniferous forests. In: F. H. Braeke (Ed.), Impact of Acid Precipitation on Forest and Freshwater Ecosystems in Norway. Research Report No. 6. SNF Project, Olso, Norway, pp. 37–63.
Baker, J., D. Hocking, and M. Nyborg. 1976. Acidity of open and intercepted precipitation in forests and effects on forest soils in Alberta, Canada. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 779–790.
Cogbill, C. V. 1975. The history and character of acid precipitation in eastern North America. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 363–370.
Cribbin, L. D., and D. D. Scacchetti. 1976. Diversity in tree species in southeastern Ohio Betula nigra L. communities. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Eco
Cronan, C. S., W. A. Reiners, R. C. Reynolds, Jr., and G. E. Lang. 1978. Forest floor leaching: Contributions from mineral, organic and carbonic acids in New Hampshire subalpine forests. Science 200:309–311.
Cronan, C. S., and C. L. Schofield. 1979. Aluminum leaching response to acid precipitation: Effects on high-elevation watersheds in the Northeast. Science 204:304–306.
Dochinger, L. S., and T. A. Seliga (Eds.). 1976. Proc. 1st International Symposium on Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, 1074 pp.
Etherington, J. R. 1975. Environment and Plant Ecology. Wiley, New York, 347 pp.
Evans, L. S., N. F. Gmur, and F. DaCosta. 1978. Foliar response of six clones of hybrid poplar. Phytopathology 68:847–856.
Feller, M. C. 1977. Nutrient movement through western hemlock-western red cedar ecosystems in southwestern British Columbia. Ecology 58:1269–1283.
Frink, C. R., and G. K. Voigt. 1976. Potential effects of acid precipitation on soils in the humid temperate zone. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 685–709.
Galloway, J. N., and E. B. Cowling. 1978. The effects of precipitation on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. A proposed precipitation chemistry network. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc. 28:229–235.
Galloway, J. N., G. E. Likens, and E. S. Edgerton. 1976. Acid precipitation in the Northeastern United States: pH and acidity. Science 194:722–724.
Graustein, W. C., K. Cromack, Jr., and P. Sollins. 1977. Calcium oxalate: Occurrence in soils and effect on nutrient and geochemical cycles. Science 198: 1252–1254.
Grennfelt, P., C. Bengtson, and L. Skärby. 1978. An estimation of the atmospheric input of acidifying substances to a forest ecosystem. Swedish Water and Air Pollution Res. Instit. No. B438, Gothenburg, Sweden, 12 pp.
Grether, D. F. 1976. The effects of a high-stack coal-burning power plant on the relative pH of the superficial bark of hardwood trees. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 913–918.
Grodźinska, K. 1976. Acidity of tree bark as a bioindicator of forest pollution in southern Poland. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 905–911.
Hitchcock, D. R. 1976. Atmospheric sulfates from biological sources. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc. 26:210–215.
Husar, R. B., J. P. Lodge, Jr., and D. J. Moore. 1978. Sulfur in the Atmosphere. Proc. Internat. Symp., Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, 7–14 Sept. 1977. Atmos. Environ. 12:1–796.
Johnson, D. W., and D. W. Cole. 1976. Sulfate mobility in an outwash soil in western Washington. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), 1st Internat Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 827–835.
Johnson, N. M. 1979. Acid rain: Neutralization within the Hubbard Brook ecosystem and regional implications. Science 204:497–499.
Johnson, N. M., R. C. Reynolds, and G. E. Likens. 1972. Atmospheric sulfur: Its effect on the chemical weathering of New England. Science 177:514–515.
Likens, G. E. 1975. Acid precipitation: Our understanding of the phenomenon. Proc. Conf. Emerging Environmental Problems: Acid Precipitation, May 1975, Renssalaerville, N. Y. EPA-902/9-75-001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New York, 115 pp.
Likens, G. E. 1976. Acid Precipitation. Chem. Eng. News 54:29–44.
Likens, G. E., F. H. Bormann, and N. M. Johnson. 1972. Acid rain. Environment 14:33–40.
Likens, G. E., F. H. Bormann, R. S. Pierce, J. S. Eaton, and N. M. Johnson. 1977. Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem. Springer-Verlag, New York, 146 pp.
Liljestrand, H. M., and J. J. Morgan. 1978. Chemical composition of acid precipitation in Pasadena, California. Environ. Sci. Technol. 12:1271–1273.
MacCracken, M. C. 1978. MAP3S: An investigation of atmospheric energy related pollutants in the northeastern United States. Atmos. Environ. 12:649–660.
Mayer, R., and B. Ulrich. 1976. Acidity of precipitation as influenced by the filtering of atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen compounds—its role in the element balance and effect on soil. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 737–743.
McColl, J. G., and D. S. Bush. 1978. Precipitation and throughfall chemistry in the San Francisco Bay area. J. Environ. Qual. 7:352–357.
Odén, S. 1976. The acidity problem—An outline of concepts. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 1–36.
Overrein, L. N. 1972. Sulfur pollution patterns observed; leaching of calcium in forest soil determined. Ambio 1:145–147.
Ovington, J. D. 1962. Quantitative ecology and the woodland ecosystem concept. Adv. Ecol. Res. 1:103–192.
Pack, D. H. 1980. Precipitation chemistry patterns: A two-network data set. Science 208:1143–1145.
Perhac, R. M. 1978. Sulfate regional experiment in the northeastern United States: The SURE program. Atmos. Environ. 12:641–648.
Rambo, D. L. 1978. Interim Report: Acid precipitation in the United States, history, extent, sources, prognoses. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contract No. 68-03-2650. Corvallis, Oregon, 24 pp.
Staxäng, B. 1969 Acidification of bark of some deciduous trees. Oikos 20:224–230.
Tamm, C.O. 1951. Removal of plant nutrients from tree crowns by rain. Physiol. Plant 4:184–188.
Tamm, C. O. 1976. Acid precipitation and forest soils. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 681–683.
Tamm, C. O., and E. B. Cowling. 1976. Acidic precipitation and forest vegetation. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 845–855.
Tamm, C. O., G. Wiklander, and B. Popovic. 1976. Effects of application of sulphuric acid to poor pine forests. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 1011–1024.
Trudgill, S. T. 1977. Soil and Vegetation Systems. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 180 pp.
Tukey, H. B. Jr. 1970. The leaching of substances from plants. Annu. Rev. Pl. Physiol. 21:305–324.
U.S.D.A. Forest Service. 1976. Workshop report on acid precipitation and the forest ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-26, U.S. D.A. Forest Service, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, 18 pp.
Wilson, W. E. 1978. Sulfates in the atmosphere: A progress report on project MISTT. Atmos. Environ. 12:537–548.
Wood, T., and F. H. Bormann. 1974. The effects of an artificial acid mist upon the growth of Betula alleghaniensis Britt. Environ. Pollut. 7:259–268.
Wood, T., and F. H. Bormann. 1975. Increases of foliar leaching caused by acidification of an artificial mist. Ambio 4:169–171.
Wood, T., and F. H. Bormann. 1976. Short-term effects of a simulated acid rain upon the growth and nutrient relations of Pinus strobus L. In: L. S. Dochinger and T. A. Seliga (Eds.), Proc. 1st Internat. Symp. Acid Precipitation and the Forest Ecosystem. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Gen. Tech. Rep. No. NE-23, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pp. 815–825.
Wood, T., and F. H. Bormann. 1977. Short-term effects of a simulated acid rain upon the growth and nutrient relations of Pinus strobus L. Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 7:479–488.
Wright, R. F., and E. T. Gjessing. 1976. Acid precipitation: Changes in the chemical composition of lakes. Ambio 5:219–223.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1981 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Smith, W.H. (1981). Forest Nutrient Cycling: Influence of Acid Precipitation. In: Air Pollution and Forests. Springer Series on Environmental Management. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0104-2_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0104-2_9
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-0106-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-0104-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive