Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern California

Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern California

We report the rapid acidification of forest soils in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. After 30 years, soil to a depth of 25 cm has decreased from a pH (measured in 0.01 M CaCl2) of 4.8 to 3.1. At the 50-cm depth, it has changed from a pH of 4.8 to 4.2. We attribute this rapid cha...

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Main Authors: Yvonne A. Wood, Mark Fenn, Thomas Meixner, Peter J. Shouse, Joan Breiner, Edith Allen, Laosheng Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2007-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2007.74
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spelling doaj-4ba229376ca8403296ad39a309b0a0b72020-11-25T01:05:18ZengHindawi LimitedThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2007-01-01717518010.1100/tsw.2007.74Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern CaliforniaYvonne A. Wood0Mark Fenn1Thomas Meixner2Peter J. Shouse3Joan Breiner4Edith Allen5Laosheng Wu6Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USAUSDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, CA, USADepartment of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USAUSDA-ARS George E. Brown, Jr. Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, CA, USAUSDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, CA, USADepartment of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USADepartment of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USAWe report the rapid acidification of forest soils in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. After 30 years, soil to a depth of 25 cm has decreased from a pH (measured in 0.01 M CaCl2) of 4.8 to 3.1. At the 50-cm depth, it has changed from a pH of 4.8 to 4.2. We attribute this rapid change in soil reactivity to very high rates of anthropogenic atmospheric nitrogen (N) added to the soil surface (72 kg ha–1 year–1) from wet, dry, and fog deposition under a Mediterranean climate. Our research suggests that a soil textural discontinuity, related to a buried ancient landsurface, contributes to this rapid acidification by controlling the spatial and temporal movement of precipitation into the landsurface. As a result, the depth to which dissolved anthropogenic N as nitrate (NO3) is leached early in the winter wet season is limited to within the top ~130 cm of soil where it accumulates and increases soil acidity.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2007.74
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Yvonne A. Wood
Mark Fenn
Thomas Meixner
Peter J. Shouse
Joan Breiner
Edith Allen
Laosheng Wu
spellingShingle Yvonne A. Wood
Mark Fenn
Thomas Meixner
Peter J. Shouse
Joan Breiner
Edith Allen
Laosheng Wu
Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern California
The Scientific World Journal
author_facet Yvonne A. Wood
Mark Fenn
Thomas Meixner
Peter J. Shouse
Joan Breiner
Edith Allen
Laosheng Wu
author_sort Yvonne A. Wood
title Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern California
title_short Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern California
title_full Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern California
title_fullStr Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern California
title_full_unstemmed Smog Nitrogen and the Rapid Acidification of Forest Soil, San Bernardino Mountains, Southern California
title_sort smog nitrogen and the rapid acidification of forest soil, san bernardino mountains, southern california
publisher Hindawi Limited
series The Scientific World Journal
issn 1537-744X
publishDate 2007-01-01
description We report the rapid acidification of forest soils in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. After 30 years, soil to a depth of 25 cm has decreased from a pH (measured in 0.01 M CaCl2) of 4.8 to 3.1. At the 50-cm depth, it has changed from a pH of 4.8 to 4.2. We attribute this rapid change in soil reactivity to very high rates of anthropogenic atmospheric nitrogen (N) added to the soil surface (72 kg ha–1 year–1) from wet, dry, and fog deposition under a Mediterranean climate. Our research suggests that a soil textural discontinuity, related to a buried ancient landsurface, contributes to this rapid acidification by controlling the spatial and temporal movement of precipitation into the landsurface. As a result, the depth to which dissolved anthropogenic N as nitrate (NO3) is leached early in the winter wet season is limited to within the top ~130 cm of soil where it accumulates and increases soil acidity.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2007.74
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