Abstract
The atmospheric deposition of some major components (e.g., NO3-N 6.6 and 14.5; SO4-S 17.8 and 42.4 kg ha−1 a−1) and trace elements (e.g., Cd 0.4 and 1.1, Cu < 1.9 and 15, Pb 43 and 48 g ha−1 a−1) in bulk and throughfall deposition respectively, shows a pronounced decline in recent measurements of total deposition in the eastern Erzgebirge (Germany). This is true for both bulk and throughfall deposition in 1992–1994 as compared to similar data from 1985–1989. The decline is a result of successful emission control strategies in central Europe and the shut down of plants and factories in the former GDR.
The dry deposition at the highest (influenced by long-range transport) and the lowest station (local influences) shows distinct differences (e.g., Cd 0.6 and 0.3; Cu 17.4 and 7.3; Pb 13 and 31 ng m−3). A comparison between total and dry deposition exhibits the different behavior of elements in respect to atmospheric concentrations and solubility in (rain)water. Anthropogenically released elements are mainly immited via wet deposition.
A comparison of element fluxes from the atmospheric input via dissolved and paniculate transport in streams to local reservoir sediments as a sink show the relative importance of the atmospheric input in a 105 km2 catchment (e.g., atmospheric Pb input 470 kg a−1, dissolved transport 50 kg a−1, particulate transport 950 kg a−1, and annual sediment accumulation 1100 kg a−1; atmospheric Zn input 3500 kg a−1, dissolved transport 5400 kg a−1, particulate transport 750 kg a−1, and sediment accumulation 5000 kg a−1). While atmospheric Pb accounts for more than 30% of the total element throughput, Zn is being introduced to almost 60% via the atmosphere.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andreae, H.; 1993, Verteilung von Schwermetallen in einem forstlich genutzten Wassereinzugsgebiet unter dem Einfluß sauerer Deposition am Beispiel der Sösemulde (Westharz). Ber. Forschungszentr. Waldökosysteme A99: 161 p.
Borbély-Kiss, I., Bozó, L., Koltay, E., Mészáros, E., Molnár, A., and Szabó, G.: 1991, Elemental composition of aerosol particles under background conditions in Hungary. Atmos. Environ. 25A: 661–668.
Borbély-Kiss, I., Koltay, E., Szabó, G., Bozó, L., Mészáros, E., and Molnár, A.: 1990, An evaluation of elemental concentrations in atmospheric aerosols over Hungary: regional signatures and long-range transport modelling. Nuclear Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. B49: 388–394.
Bozau, E.: 1995, Zum atmosphärischen Stoffeintrag in das Osterzgebirge. Ph.D. thesis, Papierflieger Publishers, Clausthal, Univ. of Heidelberg, 126 p.
Heinrichs, H., Siewers, U., Böttcher, G., Matschullat, J., Roostai, A.H., Schneider, J. and Ulrich, B.: 1994, Auswirkungen von Luftverunreinigungen auf Gewässer im Einzugsgebiet der Sösetalsperre. In: Matschullat, J., Heinrichs, H., Schneider, J. and Ulrich, B. (eds.) Gefahr für Ökosysteme und Wasserqualität — Ergebnisse interdisziplinärer Forschung im Harz. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 233–259.
Hild, A.: 1993, Geochemische Untersuchungen an Bachsedimenten aus dem Einzugsgebiet der Talsperre Malter (Osterzgebirge), Unpubl. diploma thesis, Earth Sci., Univ. Göttingen, 66p.
Jacks, G., Knutsson, G., Maxe, L.,and Fylkner, A.: 1984, Effects of Acid rain on soil and groundwater in Sweden. In: Yaron, B. et al. (eds.) Pollutants in Porous Media — The unsaturated zone betweeen soil surface and groundwater. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo, 94–114.
Kritzer, P.: 1995, Untersuchung von Aerosolen aus dem Osterzgebirge. Heidelberger Beitr. Umwelt-Geochem 1: 106 p.
Maenhaut, W.: 1989, Analytical techniques for atmospheric trace elements. In: Pacyna, J.M. and Ottar, B. (eds.) Control and Fate of Atmospheric Trace Metals, NATO ASI Series, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 259–301.
Maenhaut, W., De Reu, L., Van Rinsvelt, H.A., Cafmeyer, J. and Van Espen P.: 1980, Particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis of biological materials: Precision, accuracy and application to cancer tissues, Nuclear Instruments and Methods, 168: 557–562.
Malessa, V.: 1994, Ökologische Typisierung von Tiefengradienten der Bodenversauerung. In: Matschullat, J., Heinrichs, H., Schneider, J. and Ulrich, B. (eds.) Gefahr für Ökosysteme und Wasserqualität — Ergebnisse interdisziplinärer Forschung im Harz. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 162–185.
Mason, B. and Moore, C.B.: 1985 Grundzüge der Geochemie. F. Enke, Stuttgart, 340 p.
Matschullat, J.: 1995, Geochemische Flüsse in anthropogen beeinflußten Mittelgebirgen. Heidelberger Beitr. Umwelt-Geochem. 1: 174 p.
Matschullat, J., Andreae, H., Lessmann, D., Malessa, V., and Siewers, U.: 1992, Catchment acidification — from the top down. Environ. Pollut. 77: 143–150.
Matschullat. J., Bozau, E., Brumsack, H.J., Fänger, R., Heinrichs, H., Hild, A., Lauterbach, G., Schneider, J., Schubert, M., Leßmann, D., Halves, J., Schaefer, M., Sudbrack, R.: 1994, Stoffdispersion Osterzgebirge -Ökosystemforschung in einer alten Kulturlandschaft. In: Matschullat, J. and Müller, G. (eds.) Geowissenschaften und Umwelt. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 227–244.
Matschullat, J. and Bozau, E.: 1995, Atmospheric element input in the Eastern Ore mountains. Appl. Geochem. accepted.
Möller, D. and Lux, H.: 1992, Deposition atmosphärischer Spurenstoffe in der ehemaligen DDR bis 1990 — Methoden und Ergebnisse. VDI Schriftenreihe 18: 308 S. Kommission Reinhaltung der Luft, Düsseldorf.
Paces, T.: 1985, Sources of acidification in Central Europe estimated from elemental budgets in small basins. Nature 315 (6014): 31–36.
Schubert, M.: 1993, Geochemische und limnogeologische Untersuchungen an den Oberflächensedimenten der Talsperre Malter (Osterzgebirge). Unpubl. diploma thesis, Earth Sci. Univ. Göttingen, 109 p.
Umweltbundesamt: 1994, Daten zur Umwelt 1992/93. Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin 5, 688 S.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matschullat, J., Kritzer, P. & Maenhaut, W. Geochemical fluxes in forested acidified catchments. Water Air Soil Pollut 85, 859–864 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00476937
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00476937