Calculations of weathering rate and soil solution chemistry for forest soils in the Norwegian-Russian border area with the PROFILE model

Potential response of forest soils to S deposition in the Norwegian-Russian border area in the surroundings of the Pechenganikel smelters, the major S emitters in northern Europe, has been assessed with the PROFILE model. The release rate of base cations due to weathering range from 0.05 to 0.28 kmo l(c)/ha/yr in the 0-50 cm soil layer, thus demonstrating the high sensitivi ty of the coarse and thin podzols studied. Calculated steady-state BC/Al Va lues are significantly lower than the presumed critical value of 1, which i ndicate possible negative effect on Vegetation through soil acidification. According to the model calculations future S deposition has to be very low in order to stop the ongoing acidification and prevent vegetation damage. H owever, model assumptions, uncertainty in input data and critical chemical values applied implies that modelling results must be interpreted carefully . (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.