HR: 1330h
AN: B32A-0367    [PDF]
TI: Modeling the Response of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems in the Northeastern U.S. to Changes in Atmospheric Deposition
AU: * Chen, L
EM: lchen05@syr.edu
AF: Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 220 Hinds Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244 United States
AU: Driscoll, C T
EM: ctdrisco@mailbox.syr.edu
AF: Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 220 Hinds Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244 United States
AB: As a result of the Clean Air Act, atmospheric deposition of SO42- has declined significantly across the northeastern U.S. The acid-base status of many surface waters across the northeastern U.S. has significantly improved in response to these decreases. The response of soil and surface waters to changes in atmospheric deposition also varies among different subregions due to the different atmospheric deposition rates, soils, land use and other characteristics. In this study, an integrated biogeochemical model (PnET-BGC) was applied to 145 DDRP (Direct/Delayed Response Program) watersheds across the northeastern U.S. to simulate the changes in soil and surface waters in response to changes in atmospheric deposition at the regional scale. Sites of this study span across the Adirondacks, northern Pennsylvania/Catskills, northern New England, southern New England and Maine. The model simulated surface water chemistry was validated against synoptic surveys in 1984 and 2001. Preliminary modeling results indicated that besides the spatial gradients in S deposition, other factors such as wetland retention, seasalt impaction, land use, surficial and bedrock geology affect spatial variability in lake SO42- concentrations. In response to changes in atmospheric deposition, changes in lake SO42- concentrations were affected by amount of changes in S deposition and the ability of watersheds to retain SO42-. For sites in the Adirondacks and southern New England region, model predictions of changes in acid neutralizing capacity were consistent with measured changes.
DE: 0330 Geochemical cycles
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
DE: 1615 Biogeochemical processes (4805)
DE: 1831 Groundwater quality
DE: 4842 Modeling
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting