Relations between acid atmospheric deposition and the surface pH of some ombrotrophic bogs in Britain

Proctor, M. C. F.; Maltby, E.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2745.1998.00254.x

Cited by 28 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Monitoring and simulation experiments have shown that peat pH is directly related to precipitation pH and key species such as Sphagnum spp. are highly sensitive to sulfur pollutants [28,61,69]. Monitoring of peat bogs exposed to acid precipitation has shown rapid species changes with acid-tolerant plant species expanding at the expense of more sensitive species [43].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating the impacts of distal volcanic products upon peatlands in northern Britain: an experimental study on the Moss of Achnacree, Scotland

Payne

Blackford

2005

Journal of Archaeological Science

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating the impacts of distal volcanic products upon peatlands in northern Britain: an experimental study on the Moss of Achnacree, Scotland

Payne

Blackford

2005

Journal of Archaeological Science

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“…He showed that the pH values of peat soil solution equalled almost exactly the effective rain pH values at the sites from which the peat had been collected. Further evidence to support this observation is provided by Proctor and Maltby (1998) from their work on pools in peat bogs, and from a 3-year experiment in which simulated acid rain was applied to Calluna/peat microcosms (Parveen et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Tolerance ofcalluna vulgarisand peatland plant communities to sulphuric acid deposition

Calver¹,

Cresser²,

Smart³

2004

Chemistry and Ecology

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Critical loads offer a unique way of evaluating impacts of acid deposition by quantifying environmental sensitivity. The critical loads of acidity for UK peat soils have been based upon an arbitrary reduction in pH of 0.2 units. This chemical shift needs to be better related to adverse effects on sensitive biological receptors. It is known that effective precipitation pH equates closely to soil solution pH, and the latter is directly linkable to biotic effects of pH change. On continuation of a long-term experiment assessing impacts of simulated acid rain on peat microcosms in a realistic outdoor environment, Calluna vulgaris continued to flourish at acid deposition loads well above the existing critical load. Calluna plants were harvested and analysed, and acid deposition treatments to the microcosms continued to allow natural vegetation to regenerate. A diverse mixture of moorland plants and bryophytes established at acidity treatments well above the existing critical load, and only a very high acid load resulted in no natural regeneration. A critical effective rain pH value of 3.6 is suggested as a basis for setting critical loads. At this pH, Calluna grows well, and a healthy diverse vegetation community re-establishes when harvested. It is suggested that the peat critical load should be set at the acid load that, at any specific site, would result in a mean effective precipitation pH of 3.6.

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“…The precise relationship between this value and forest ecosystem response is less clear than for mineral soils and is more difficult to support from the published literature. However, Skiba and Cresser (1989), Proctor and Maltby (1998) and Calver et al (2003) have shown non-forest ecosystem functioning in peat soils to be adversely affected at pH levels lower than this. Furthermore, this is the default value recommended in the UNECE Mapping Manual (UBA, 1996) and can be viewed as a precautionary approach to setting a chemical criterion for protecting against adverse biological impacts.…”

Section: Calculation Of Critical Loadsmentioning

confidence: 97%

The development of an approach to assess critical loads of acidity for woodland habitats in Great Britain

Langan

Hall

Reynolds

et al. 2004

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Alongside other countries that are signatories to the UNECE Convention Long Range Transboundary on Air Pollution, the UK is committed to reducing the impact of air pollution on the environment. To advise and guide this policy in relation to atmospheric emissions of sulphur and nitrogen, a critical load approach has been developed. To assess the potential impact of these pollutants on woodland habitats a steady state, simple mass balance model has been parameterised. For mineral soils, a Ca:Al ratio in soil solution has been used as the critical load indicator for potential damage. For peat and organic soils critical loads have been set according to a pH criterion. Together these approaches have been used with national datasets to examine the potential scale of acidification in woodland habitats across the UK. The results can be mapped to show the spatial variability in critical loads of the three principal woodland habitat types (managed coniferous, managed broadleaved/ mixed woodland and unmanaged woodland). The results suggest that there is a wide range of critical loads. The most sensitive (lowest) critical loads are associated with managed coniferous followed by unmanaged woodland on peat soils. Calculations indicate that at steady state, acid deposition inputs reported for 19951997 result in a large proportion of all the woodland habitats identified receiving deposition loads in excess of their critical load; i.e. critical loads are exceeded. These are discussed in relation to future modelled depositions for 2010. Whilst significant widespread negative impacts of such deposition on UK woodland habitats have not been reported, the work serves to illustrate that if acid deposition inputs were maintained and projected emissions reductions not achieved, the long-term sustainability of large areas of woodland in the UK could be compromised.

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Relations between acid atmospheric deposition and the surface pH of some ombrotrophic bogs in Britain

Cited by 28 publications

References 20 publications

Simulating the impacts of distal volcanic products upon peatlands in northern Britain: an experimental study on the Moss of Achnacree, Scotland

Simulating the impacts of distal volcanic products upon peatlands in northern Britain: an experimental study on the Moss of Achnacree, Scotland

Tolerance ofcalluna vulgarisand peatland plant communities to sulphuric acid deposition

The development of an approach to assess critical loads of acidity for woodland habitats in Great Britain

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