Atmospheric deposition and solute export in giant sequoia: Mixed conifer watersheds in the Sierra Nevada, California

Biogeochemistry
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Atmospheric depostion and stream discharge and solutes were measured for three years (September 1984 — August 1987) in two mixed conifer watersheds in Sequoia National Park, in the southern Sierra Nevada of California. The Log Creek watershed (50 ha, 2067–2397 m elev.) is drained by a perennial stream, while Tharp's Creek watershed (13 ha, 2067–2255 m elev.) contains an intermittent stream. Dominant trees in the area include Abies concolor (white fir), Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant sequoia), A. magnifica (red fir), and Pinus lambertiana (sugar pine). Bedrock is predominantly granite and granodiorite, and the soils are mostly Pachic Xerumbrepts. Over the three year period, sulfate (SO4 2−), nitrate (NO3 ), and chloride (Cl−1) were the major anions in bulk precipitation with volume-weighted average concentrations of 12.6, 12.3 and 10.0 μeq/1, respectively. Annual inputs of NO3-N, NH4-N and SO4-S from wet deposition were about 60 to 75% of those reported from bulk deposition collectors. Discharge from the two watersheds occurs primarily during spring snowmelt. Solute exports from Log and Tharp's Creeks were dominated by HCO3 , Ca2+ and Na+, while H+, NO3 , NH4 + and PO4 3− outputs were relatively small. Solute concentrations were weakly correlated with instantaneous stream flow for all solutes (r2 <0.2) except HCO3  (Log Cr. r2 = 0.72; Tharp's Cr. r2 = 0.38), Na+ (Log Cr. r2 = 0.56; Tharp's Cr. r2 = 0.47), and silicate (Log Cr. r2 = 0.71; Tharp's Cr. r2 = 0.49). Mean annual atmospheric contributions of NO3-N (1.6 kg ha−1), NH4-N (1.7 kg ha−1), and SO4-S (1.8 kg ha−1), which are associated with acidic deposition, greatly exceed hydrologic losses. Annual watershed yields (expressed as eq ha−1) of HCO3  exceeded by factors of 2.5 to 37 the annual atmospheric deposition of H+.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Atmospheric deposition and solute export in giant sequoia: Mixed conifer watersheds in the Sierra Nevada, California
Series title Biogeochemistry
DOI 10.1007/BF00002608
Volume 12
Issue 3
Year Published 1991
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description 24 p.
First page 207
Last page 230
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Sierra Nevada
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details