Correlating predictive contaminant deposition maps with streamwater chemistry at Acadia National Park
Kahl S, Nelson S, Fernandez I, Weathers KC, Sheehan K, Diamond GA, Johnson K. 2005. Correlating predictive contaminant deposition maps with streamwater chemistry at Acadia National Park. Cooperative Agreement # H452020030. Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences. University of Maine, Orono
(Copied from Abstract) "This project provided a continuation of the 1999-2005 record of major ion chemistry and Hg in throughfall, streamwater chemistry, and fluxes for paired watersheds at Acadia National Park. The sites are among the most intensively studied for Hg in the U.S. Canopy openness or vegetation type and elevation were the most important landscape variables describing variability in deposition of major ions and Hg, excluding NO3, to the two gauged watersheds. Nitrate deposition is not predicted well by landscape features. We created and evaluated a regression tree model for deposition of SO4 and Hg using these factors, also important in the model of K. Weathers, developed for Acadia under separate funding. Correlations between major ions and DOC in throughfall indicate that landscape-chemistry relationships used in modeling S may be transferable to other analytes. We surveyed streams across the Park, some of which had not been sampled since the 1980Æs and coordinated key stream water quality data sets into a single database. Comparison of modeled deposition across the Park and streamwater survey data suggested that although deposition of Hg and SO4 appear to be controlled by the same landscape factors (vegetation structure and elevation), streamwater chemistry is not spatially consistent between the two analytes. Streamwater SO4 appears to generally follow the deposition pattern, with the highest values in the west and south of Mount Desert Island, while streamwater Hg is highest in the more lowland-wetland northwest quadrant of the island. Though this research focused on spatial patterns, temporal variability of deposition was evaluated. Though researchers in other area of the US have suggested that Hg deposition is minimal in winter, wet-only deposition of Hg was approximately one-quarter of annual wet deposition flux at Acadia. New snow throughfall Hg deposition estimates suggest that winter deposition is probably quantitatively important, though losses via volatilization are currently under investigation. However, snow throughfall deposition in winter follows a similar pattern with respect to vegetation structure as the non-winter throughfall samples collected for this project, suggesting that we may be able to model deposition year-round for the Park when these results are fully integrated with the work of Weathers et al."
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Kahl, Steve; Nelson, Sarah; Fernandez, Ivan; Weathers, Kathleen; Sheehan, K.D.; Diamond, Grygo; Johnson, K.B.
- Date of Issue
- 2005-09-23
- Publisher
- Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences
- Units
- ACAD
- Keywords
- Anions, Cadillac Brook, Canon Brook, canopy openness, Cations, chloride (Cl), coniferous, deciduous, dendrogram, Deposition, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), Hadlock Brook, Ions, Litter, Mercury (Hg), Mount Desert Island, Nitrate (NO3), Nitrogen (N), Precipitation, Sodium (Na), Streams, Sulfate (SO4), Sulfur (S), Water Quality, Water Resources, Watershed, Watersheds