Effects of Reduced S Deposition on Large-Scale Transport of Sulphur in Swedish Rivers

Sulphur deposition has diminished by about half during the last decade. For Sweden consistent estimates of total deposition are available for 1991, and 1994–97. Based on these estimates and using GIS the deposition for large drainage areas during one decade are calculated. These values are compared with the measured S transport in rivers covering about 85% of the Swedish territory, thus enabling the construction of a S budget for Sweden. The majority of the drainage areas have a net loss of S, which can be attributed to desorption of S in the soil. During the period of high deposition in the 1980:s (>60 meq m-2 yr-1 in southern Sweden) S was adsorbed, and retarded acidification. There still seems to be some S-adsorption in the northern parts of the country, where the deposition is less (now <20 meq m-2 yr-1).