The Integrated Lake-Watershed Acidification Study: Atmospheric Inputs

Atmospheric inputs to Woods, Panther, and Sagamore Lake-Watersheds in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State were measured on a daily basis from March 1978 through December 1981. Precipitation quality was nearly identical at all sites on monthly and yearly bases; ion loadings to each watershed were principally controlled by the amount of precipitation. No yearly trend was evident for any ion concentration in wet deposition. Annual precipitation quantities showed little deviation from long-term averages for this region. Throughfall measured under various species of trees showed enrichment in most base cations and acid anions. Deciduous trees were found to increase the pH of incident precipitation, while coniferous canopies tended to decrease pH.