The input of gaseous and particulate sulfur to a forest ecosystem

Abstract

Sulfate is the predominant anion in precipitation entering the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, a northern hardwood forest in north-central New Hampshire. Sulfur is also the dominant element in airborne particulate matter. Losses of sulfur from the ecosystem in stream water exceed inputs in precipitation plus that released from weathering. Using the ecosystem method, it is possible to estimate (by difference) that 6.1 kg/ha/yr of sulfur is obtained from dry deposition on the ecosystem. The deposition velocity for particulate sulfur is estimated to be about 0.1 cm/s and the deposition velocity for sulfur dioxide is 0.9 cm/s. Some biogeochemical relationships of sulfur for the Hubbard Brook Forest are presented. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1978.tb00872.x