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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256726
Title: Long-term trends in precipitation and surface water chemistry

Author
item Peters, Debra
item LANEY, CHRISTINE - New Mexico State University
item LUGO, ARIEL - Forest Service (FS)
item COLLINS, SCOTT - University Of New Mexico
item DRISCOLL, CHARLES - Syracuse University
item GROFFMAN, PETER - Cary Institute Of Ecosystem Studies
item GROVE, J. MORGAN - Forest Service (FS)
item KNAPP, ALAN - Colorado State University
item KRATZ, TIMOTHY - University Of Wisconsin
item OHMAN, MARK - University Of California

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2011
Publication Date: 11/20/2013
Citation: Peters, D.C., Laney, C.M., Lugo, A.E., Collins, S.L., Driscoll, C.T., Groffman, P.M., Grove, J., Knapp, A.K., Kratz, T.K., Ohman, M.D. 2013. Long-term trends in precipitation and surface water chemistry. In: Peters, D.P.C., Laney, C.M., Lugo, A.E., et al., editors. Long-Term Trends in Ecological Systems: A Basis for Understanding Responses to Global Change. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Technical Bulletin Number 1931. p. 115-161.

Interpretive Summary: This chapter first describes common methods to measure precipitation and surface water chemistry, and the rationale for the selection of variables in the book. It then shows graphs of long-term data summarized across sites and by site for two major elements (nitrogen, sulfur in precipitation as inputs; surface waters as exports). The continental-scale patterns for chloride and calcium and also shown. Volume-weighted concentration (mg/L) and area-based wet deposition (kg/ha) from precipitation, and concentration in surface water (mg/L) of nitrogen (as nitrate and ammonium), sulfur (as sulfate), chloride, and calcium are selected. Two types of graphs are included to show trends in the variables and to provide a sense of change across a range of spatial scales (continent, site) for each variable: maps at continental scale showing either the mean across years or the slope of the regression line (if significant) across time, and site-scale data through time. Nitrate and sulfate deposition are decreasing in many Eastern sites, consistent with efforts to control emissions of acid-causing nitrogen and sulfur from power plants in this part of the country.

Technical Abstract: This chapter shows long-term data and trends in precipitation and surface water chemistry for each site. It contains a brief introduction to the topic, and methods of measurements, selection of variables, and their data source. It consists primarily of a large number of figures showing long-term data for different variables. Volume-weighted concentration (mg/L) and area-based wet deposition (kg/ha) from precipitation, and concentration in surface water (mg/L) of nitrogen (as nitrate and ammonium), sulfur (as sulfate), chloride, and calcium are selected. Two types of graphs are included to show trends in the variables and to provide a sense of change across a range of spatial scales (continent, site) for each variable: maps at continental scale showing either the mean across years or the slope of the regression line (if significant) across time, and site-scale data through time. Nitrate and sulfate deposition are decreasing in many Eastern sites, consistent with efforts to control emissions of acid-causing nitrogen and sulfur from power plants in this part of the country.