INTERCEPTION OF SEASALT BY CONIFEROUS AND BROADLEAVED WOODLAND IN A MARITIME ENVIRONMENT IN WESTERN IRELAND

Atmospheric deposition in maritime regions is dominated by seasalt. Hi gh inputs of seasalt can induce short-term acidification in surface wa ters by displacement of hydrogen and aluminium from the soil exchange complex. Measurement of sodium fluxes in two forest stands, one conife rous, one broadleaved, in a maritime region of western Ireland resulte d in almost equal deposition at the two stands. This is remarkable giv en that the broadleaved forest has a low interception of water. Weekly throughfall data emphasise the enormous fluctuation in seasalt deposi tion. In both stands deposition is highest in winter. (C) 1998 Elsevie r Science Ltd.