METHOD TO ESTIMATE ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION OF BASE CATIONS IN CONIFEROUS THROUGHFALL

A convenient non-electric method for estimating the dry deposition of base cations on a coniferous forest is presented. The dry deposition i s estimated by multiplying the ratio of the base cation deposition to the sodium deposition on a surrogate surface with the dry deposition o f sodium on the forest stand (throughfall technique). The surrogate su rface is designed to resemble the needles in a coniferous forest with respect to particle deposition. Atmospheric non-marine dry deposition measured using the surrogate surface was compared to model calculated depositions. There was a good agreement for calcium but not for potass ium.