Effects of Atmospheric Sea-Salt Deposition on Soils and Freshwaters in Northeast Scotland

The majority of Scottish upland soils are particularly sensitive to acid deposition because of their low weathering rates. The compositions of the exchangeable base cations of such soils in the United Kingdom are dominated by sea salt inputs rather than by mineral weathering inputs of base cations. Catchments with low mineral weathering rates are also those particularly susceptible to freshwater acidification. Therefore, catchments exhibiting a high sea salt effect should also exhibit the most acid waters under base flow and storm flow conditions. A field evaluation study based on 61 catchments in NE Scotland has shown that this is indeed the case. River water pH under both base flow and high flow conditions is correlated stronhly with the relative contribution of Na+ to the sum of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+. From these results, an attempt is being made to produce a quantitative signature of weathering for the soils within the catchment upstream of the sampling point. Representative soil samples from the LFH, AE, B and C horizons and on 4 different parent materials have been obtained from the surrounding catchments to validate the above results for associated soil solutions. Sampling took place on upland moorland podzols under Calluna vulgaris. Tension lysimeters were used to sample the soil solutions so that their chemistry could be compared with that of the relevant river water.     

Factors influencing fluoride concentrations in Norwegian lakes

The sources and mechanisms regulating fluoride (F) in Norwegian lake waters are studied using data from regional surveys of precipitation chemistry, lake water chemistry and bedrock geology. Fluoride concentrations in Norwegian lakes range from < 5 to 560 μg L^?1. Fluoride content in the bedrock is the most important factor controlling F levels in lake waters, as shown by significant differences in median value of F concentrations between lakes situated in different geological provinces. There are also weak but significant correlations between F in the lakes and components typical for weathering such as non-marine Ca, Mg, Na and K. The regional picture of F concentration in lake water shows elevated F concentrations in the acidified areas in southern and southeastern Norway compared to other regions of the country with comparable geology. There is a weak but significant correlation between F and SO₄, a typical indicator of acidification in surface water. Mass balance calculations in three catchments show that F is retained in soils in pristine areas, while F output exceeds precipitation input in acidified areas. This both demonstrates the strong retention capacity for F in soils and indicates that anthropogenic F added through polluted rain is a minor source of F in surface waters. Fluoride is mobilized in acidifies areas, probably due to complexation with Al.     

Ion mass budgets for small forested catchments in Finland

Ion mass and H⁺ budgets were calculated for three pristine forested catchments using bulk deposition, throughfall and runoff data. The catchments have different soil and forest type characteristics. A forest canopy filtering factor for each catchment was estimated for base cations, H⁺, Cl^? and SO ₄ ^2? by taking into account the specific filtering abilities of different stands based on the throughfall quality and the distribution of forest types. Output fluxes from the catchments were calculated from the quality and quantity of the runoff water. Deposition, weathering, ion exchange, retention and biological accumulation processes were taken into account to calculate catchment H⁺ budgets, and the ratio between external (anthropogenic) and internal H⁺ sources. In general, output exceeded input for Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, HCO ₃ ^? (if present) and A^? (organic anions), whereas retention was observed in the case of H⁺, NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ^? and SO ₄ ^2? . The range in the annual input of H⁺ was 22.8–26.3 meq m^?2 yr^?1, and in the annual output, 0.3–3.9 meq m^?2 yr^?1. Compared with some forested sites located in high acid deposition areas in southern Scandinavia, Scotland and Canada, the catchments receive rather moderate loads of acidic deposition. The consumption of H⁺ was dominated by base cation exchange plus weathering reactions (41–79 %), and by the retention of SO ₄ ^2? (17–49 %). The maximum net retention of SO ₄ ^2? was 87% in the HietajÄrvi 2 catchment, having the highest proportion of peatlands. Nitrogen transformations played a rather minor role in the H⁺ budgets. The ratio between external and internal H⁺ sources (excluding net base cation uptake by forests) varied between 0.74 and 2.62, depending on catchment characteristics and acidic deposition loads. The impact of the acidic deposition was most evident for the southern Valkeakotinen catchment, where the anthropogenic acidification has been documented also by palaeolimnological methods.     

Trends in Sulfate,Base Cations and H+ Concentrations in Bulk Precipitation and Throughfall at Integrated Monitoring Sites in Finland 1989-1995

Temporal trends in sulfate, base cation (Ca2+ + Mg2+ + K+), and H+ ion concentrations in bulk precipitation and throughfall samples collected over a seven year period (1989-95) in four forested catchments in Finland are presented. The catchments are in remote locations and span the boreal zone (61-69 °N). The stands represent old, undisturbed forests, and are composed of varying proportions of Scots pine, Norway spruce and deciduous species (mainly Betula spp.). Monthly SO₄ ^2- and H+ ion concentrations in bulk precipitation averaged over the study period and catchments were: 18.7 µmol L^-1 and 32.3 µmol L^-1. The corresponding values for throughfall were: 37.4 µmol L^-1 and 32.4 µmol L^-1. Sulfate and H+ ion concentrations in bulk precipitation and throughfall both showed negative linear trends, which were significant (p < 0.05) for the three southernmost catchments. Concentrations and trend slope decreased northwards (e.g., bulk precipitation SO₄ ^2- slope estimates: ^-1.6 to ^-1.0 µmol L^-1 yr^-1). The decline was greater for throughfall than for bulk precipitation, indicating a proportionally greater reduction in dry deposition than wet. The sum of base cation concentrations averaged 12.1 µmol(+) L^-1 in bulk precipitation and 83.1 µmol(+) L^-1 in throughfall. There were no significant trends in the sum of base cations (p > 0.05). It is concluded that the reported reduction in S emissions over the study period has resulted in a significant reduction in the acidity and SO₄ ^2- concentration of bulk precipitation, and this reduction has has been reflected in throughfall concentrations. The greatest reduction has taken place in the southern part of the country.     

Water flow paths in soil control element exports in an Andean tropical montane forest

We tested the hypothesis that concentrations of chemical constituents in stream water can be explained by the depth of water flow through soil. Therefore, we measured the concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), NO₃‐N, NH₄‐N, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Al and Mn in rainfall, throughfall, stemflow, litter leachate, mineral soil solution and stream water of three 8–13 ha catchments on steep slopes (1900–2200 m above sea level) of the south Ecuadorian Andes, from April 1998 to April 2003. Peak C (14–22 mg litre^?1), N (0.6–0.9 mg litre^?1), K (0.5–0.7 mg litre^?1), Ca (0.6–1.0 mg litre^?1), Mg (0.3–0.5 mg litre^?1), Al (110–390 μg litre^?1) and Mn (3.9–8.4 μg litre^?1) concentrations in stream water were associated with lateral flow (fast near‐surface flow in saturated topsoil) while the greatest P (0.1–0.3 mg litre^?1), S (0.3–0.7 mg litre^?1) and Na (3.0–6.0 mg litre^?1) concentrations occurred during low baseflow conditions. All elements had greater concentrations in the organic layer than in the mineral soil, but only C, N, K, Ca, Mg, Al and Mn were flushed out during lateral‐flow conditions. Phosphorus, S and Na, in contrast, were mainly released by weathering and (re‐)oxidation of sulphides in the subsoil. Baseflow accounted for 32% to 61% of P export, while > 50% of S was exported during intermediate flow conditions (i.e. lateral flow at the depth of several tens of cm in the mineral soil). Near‐surface water flow through C‐ and nutrient‐rich topsoil during rainstorms was the major export pathway for C, N, Al and Mn (contributing > 50% to the total export of these elements). Near‐surface flow also accounted for one‐third of total base metal export. Our results demonstrate that near‐surface flow related to storm events markedly affects the cycling of many nutrients in steep tropical montane forests.     

Canopy leaching of cations in Central European forest ecosystems – a regional assessment

The leaching of Ca, Mg, and K from canopies is a major pathway of these cations into forest soils. Our aim was to quantify rates of canopy leaching and to identify driving factors at the regional scale using annual fluxes of bulk precipitation and throughfall from 37 coniferous and deciduous forests of North and Central Europe. Total deposition of Ca, Mg, K, and H⁺ was estimated with Na as an index cation. The median canopy leaching increased in the order: Mg (0.11 kmol_c ha^–1 a^–1) < Ca (0.31 kmol_c ha^–1 a^–1) < K (0.39 kmol_c ha^–1 a^–1). Canopy leaching of Ca and K was positively correlated with the calculated total H⁺ deposition and H⁺ buffered in the canopy, whereas canopy leaching of Mg was not. With contrasting effects, fluxes of SO₄‐S and NH₄‐N in throughfall explained to 64 % (P<0.001) of the Ca canopy leaching. Fluxes of NH₄‐N and Ca were negatively correlated, suggesting that buffering of H⁺ by NH₃ deposition reduced canopy leaching of Ca. Amount of bulk precipitation and SO₄‐S in throughfall were identified as much weaker driving factors for canopy leaching of K (r²=0.28, P<0.01). Our results show that Ca is the dominant cation in buffering the H⁺ input in the canopy. At the regional and annual scale, canopy leaching of Mg appears to be unaffected by H⁺ deposition and H⁺ buffering in the canopy.     

双河洞小流域主要离子化学特征及其来源分析

为探究岩溶地表水和地下水水化学特征及其各种盐类对主要离子的贡献,以喀斯特小流域为研究尺度,对贵州绥阳双河洞区域地表水和地下水水化学进行野外监测、采样和室内实验,并运用SPSS统计软件对水样点进行主成分分析研究。结果表明:(1)双河洞水化学阳离子主要以Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)为主,阴离子以HCO_3~-和SO_4~(2-)为主。水化学类型主要为Ca~(2+)·Mg~(2+)—HCO_3~-型水,而石膏洞为Ca~(2+)·Mg~(2+)—SO_4~(2-)型水。大多数离子的含量随采样点、季节和水体类型的不同而呈显著性差异;(2)岩石风化对流域离子组成影响显著,阴离子主要来自碳酸盐、蒸发盐或岩盐的溶解和风化,蒸发盐溶解是阳离子的主要控制机制,硅酸盐风化侵蚀作用对区域离子变化存在一定影响;(3)主成分分析法得出对区域离子化学组成的影响程度按碳酸盐、蒸发盐和硅酸盐递减,其中H_2CO_3风化碳酸盐岩的影响显著,但在个别地下水主要受H_2SO_4风化碳酸盐岩的影响显著,此外农业活动和居民生活也有一定影响。研究结果对双河洞洞区水资源的保护和开发利用及岩溶碳循环研究具有重要意义。     

Influence of catchment characteristics,forestry activities and deposition on nitrogen export from small forested catchments

The ability to predict nitrogen export from forested catchments is essential in order to evaluate the effects of anthropogenic activities on the trophic status of lakes and sea areas, and to extrapolate the results to catchments from which no measurements are available. Data from 20 forested catchments (0.3–42 km²) in Finland and Sweden during the 10-year period 1979–88 were used to develop empirical multivariate regression models of average NO₃-N, NH₄-N and organic N export fluxes as a function of geomorphological, meteorological, hydrological, deposition and forest management variables. A combination of high inorganic N deposition or air temperature and a low extent of organic soils was related to (R² = 0.64) high losses of NO₃-N. A strong correlation between N deposition and air temperature makes it difficult to distinguish the effects of one variable from the other. Retention of deposited nitrogen is still high in most of the catchments. High losses of NH₄-N had the strongest correlation with forestry activities and stream density. A combination of drainage percentage and temperature was related to (R² = 0.53) losses of NH₄-N. The most important factors explaining spatial variability of organic N losses were clearly forestry activities. A combination of high percentage of drainage and clear-cutting was related to (R² = 0.81) high organic N losses. However, within the catchments, large-scale forest management practices were needed before any clear effect on spatial variability was detected. All the equations obtained were influenced by the choice of a limited number of catchments. No causal relationships between losses and the explaining variables can be inferred from this type of study.     

A comparison of buffered and unbuffered ammonium salts to determine exchangeable base cations in acid soils

Abstract

In soil samples from two study sites in southern Norway, exchangeable cations were determined using two different ammonium (NH₄)‐salts as extractant. As expected, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) determined in 1M ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc), buffered at pH 7.0 was higher than the CEC measured in ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃). By contrast, the amount of exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and barium (Ba) was lowest in the NH₄OAc extract, in particular in the upper soil horizons high in organic matter (O‐ and E‐horizon). This suggests that NH₄ in 1M NH₄OAc does not compete effectively with multivalent base cations. The relatively high levels of exchangeable base cations in NH₄NO₃ could not be explained by increased weathering. An increase in selectivity of especially divalent cations may explain the relatively low amount of exchangeable base cations extracted by NH₄OAc, as this involves increased deprotonation and thus a higher negative charge.     

Changes in Mass Element Fluxes and their Importance for Critical Loads: Geomon Network,Czech Republic

Three years (1994-1996) of runoff, bulk deposition, and throughfall S and N data obtained from GEOMON, a network of 14 small forest catchments in the Czech Republic, are presented. In this paper, we assess regional differences and temporal trends in S and N fluxes under changing regional burdens. Decreases in S deposition have occurred in the emission-burdened northern and western parts of the Czech Republic, where remedial measures have been applied. For example, at the Uhlí?ská catchment (Jizerské hory Mtns., northern Czech Republic), throughfall S fluxes decreased from 72.7 to 48.5 kg ha-1 yr-1. In contrast, the relatively clean central and southern parts of the Czech Republic showed an increase in S deposition; for example at the Na lizu catchment (?umava Mtns., southern Czech Republic) throughfall S fluxes increased from 9.0 to 18.8 kg ha-1 yr-1. In burdened catchments with damaged forests, high runoff of N was observed. Using fluxes of S and N measured at the GEOMON sites, we calculated critical loads and exceedances for both S and N in the catchments. The critical loads of S ranged from 505 to 3,631 mol L-1 yr-1 during 1994-1996; in about 80% of the catchments the critical loads were exceeded by atmospheric deposition; half of the catchments showed an exceedance for N.

     

Calcium,magnesium, and potassium uptake by crested wheatgrass grown on calcareous soils

Abstract

Forage intake with potassium/(calcium + magnesium) [K/(Mg + Ca)] values in excess of 2.2 are associated with grass tetany and Mg deficiencies in ruminants. This study was conducted to determine the degree to which forage K and Mg concentrations and K/(Ca + Mg) ratios could be predicted from soil bicarbonate (HCO₃) extractable phosphate‐phosphorus (PO₄‐P), and saturation extract Ca, Mg, K, sodium (Na), and nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N) concentrations. Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron spp) strains and cultivars representing four ploidy levels were grown in the greenhouse on eight calcareous soils with different saturation extract Ca, Mg, K and K/Mg ratios. The plants were harvested three times. Soil solution K/(Ca + Mg) and K/Mg ratios were the only measured soil parameters that showed a consistent correlation with plant K/(Ca + Mg) ratios. Bicarbonate extractable soil P was positively related to plant P and K uptake in the first harvest, but was not related in the second and third harvests nor was soil P related to plant Ca or Mg content. There was a tendency for the higher ploidy level entries to have higher plant K/(Ca + Mg) ratios. It was concluded that soil K/(Ca + Mg) ratios can be used to predict relative forage K/(Ca + Mg) ratios for grasses grown under similar conditions.     

Remediation of a Magnesium‐Contaminated Soil by Chemical Amendments and Leaching

The deposition of magnesium (Mg)‐rich dust from magnesite mining activities has resulted in serious land degradation. However, the main factors limiting plant growth in Mg‐contaminated soils are unclear. Moreover, little information is available on the remediation of Mg‐contaminated soils. In this study, remediation of soils contaminated with Mg‐rich dust was investigated in a pot experiment using maize as the indicator plant. There were five treatments: (i) control; (ii) leaching; (iii) application of CaCl₂; (iv) leaching + CaCl₂ application; and (v) application of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ · H₂O. Soil properties and growth of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings were measured. Leaching alone significantly decreased soluble Mg concentration. Leaching + CaCl₂ application greatly increased exchangeable Ca concentration and decreased soil pH by 0·3 units. Application of CaCl₂ alone increased soluble Mg concentration sharply, which directly inhibited the germination of maize seeds. Application of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ · H₂O significantly increased the concentrations of exchangeable Ca and available phosphorus and decreased soil pH by 1·7 units. The biomass of maize seedlings increased in the order of control = leaching < leaching + CaCl₂ < < Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ · H₂O. These results suggested that the plant growth in Mg‐contaminated soils was limited primarily by Ca deficiency and secondarily by high soil pH when exchangeable Ca was sufficient. High soil pH suppressed plant growth probably mainly by inhibiting phosphate uptake from the soil. Applying acid Ca salt with low solubility is an attractive option for the remediation of Mg‐contaminated soils. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The acid buffer capacity of some finnish forest soils: Results of acid addition laboratory experiments

Batch acid addition experiments were carried out to determine the acid buffer capacities (amount of acid required to lower soil pH by one unit) of forest soils. Samples of O, E, B (or BC), and C horizons taken from 29 podzolic profiles in southern Finland were used in the experiments. Subsamples of soil were equilibrated for 24 h with NaCl solution containing additions of HCl acid. Cation exchange, mineral dissolution (weathering), and the protonation of organic matter all appeared to have been involved in the buffering of the acid additions. For the O horizon samples, most of the cations released in response to the acid additions were base cations. For the mineral soil samples, most of the cations released were Al³⁺ ions. With the exception of a few samples, the added acid was not fully neutralised and pH was lowered even with the lowest addition treatment. However, the acid addition treatments corresponded to many times the regional annual acid deposition load (1.6–2.0 cmol(c) m^?2). Calculated acid buffer capacities (cmol(c) kg^?1 pH^?1) ranged from 9.8 to 40.8 for O horizon soil samples and from 0.1 (C horizon) to 5.2 (E horizon) for the mineral soil samples. Total acid buffer capacities for a profile (to a depth of 50 cm) ranged from 500 to 2349, with a mean value of 1091 cmol(c) m^?2 pH^?1. It is concluded that, in addition to CEC and base saturation, acid buffer capacity is a useful measure to describe the ecological effects of acid deposition on soil.     

Simulating acidification and recovery processes in experimental catchments with the ILWAS model

The Integrated Lake Watershed Acidification Study (ILWAS) model was used to simulate soil discharge chemistry at two neighboring experimental catchments. One catchment underwent deacidification because of the artificial application of deacidified precipitation whereas the other catchment received unaltered acidic precipitation. Simulated results reproduce the observed seasonal dynamics in the concentrations of base cations, NO ₃ ^? , Al, and H₄SiO ₄ ⁰ in soil discharges for both catchments. Simulated results also indicate that the export flux of base cations was decreased by 30% at the deacidification catchment in response to the decrease in acid deposition. However, simulated SO ₄ ^2? concentrations show decreases that are about 40% more rapid than were observed. Simulated organic acid concentrations were also substantially lower than those observed at the deacidification catchment, indicating that organic matter decomposition processes were not correctly simulated. Acid-base budgets for both 5 and 50-yr simulations indicate that acid displacement by base cations through ion exchange is the principal process delaying recovery of runoff alkalinity, whereas SO ₄ ^2? desorption has a minor role. Silicate weathering is the dominant acid-consuming process at both catchments. Criteria proposed here for assessing forecast reliability include reproducing seasonal dynamics in discharge chemistry, providing numerically accurate chemical concentrations when compared to monitoring data, and correctly predicting deacidification rate and extent. The ILWAS model generally meets these criteria, indicating that the model can produce a reliable forecast of the effects of acid deposition on the acid-base chemistry of surface waters given sufficient temporal data for confident optimization of the calibrated variables in the model.     

Experimental acidification of alpine catchments at Sogndal,Norway: Results after 8 years

Manipulations with whole catchments were initiated in Norway in 1983 (RAIN project Reversing Acidification In Norway) to obtain direct experimental evidence relating to the reversibility of soil and water acidification, rate of change, and the relative roles of sulfur and nitrogen. We present here results for soil and runoff chemistry during 8 years of acid addition at Sogndal, a pristine acid-sensitive site in central Norway characterized by gneissic bedrock, thin and patchy soils, and alpine vegetation. Catchment SOG2 receives 100 meq m^?2 yr^?1 H₂SO₄, catchment SOG4 receives a 1∶1 mixture of H₂SO₄ and HNO₃, while catchments SOG1 and SOG3 serve as untreated controls. Acid is applied to the snowpack in April and in 5 portions of 11 mm of pH 3.2 acidified lakewater during the snowfree period. The 8-years of acid addition have caused major changes in runoff chemistry. Concentrations of sulfate and base cations have increased while acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) has decreased. Henriksen's F-factor (change in concentration of non-marine Ca+Mg divided by change in concentration of non-marine SO₄) is about 0.35, but is expected to decrease as soil acidification proceeds. Runoff is acidic, aluminum-rich, and toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. Repeated soil sampling indicates no dramatic trends related to treatment. Year-to-year variations are large, and mask changes expected. The input-output budgets indicate that over the 8-yr period Ca has been depleted by about 5% of the total soil pool of exchangeable Ca. The observed trends are consistent with response predicted by MAGIC, a process-oriented model of soil and water acidification. The gradual increase in nitrate flux from catchment SOG4 may be the first indication of ‘nitrogen saturation’ induced simply by increasing nitrogen deposition.     

Effects of reduced atmospheric deposition on soil solution chemistry and elemental contents of spruce needles in NE—Bavaria,Germany

The decrease in anthropogenic deposition, namely SO₄^2— and SO₂, in European forest ecosystems during the last 20 years has raised questions concerning the recovery of forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the long term data of element concentrations at the Fichtelgebirge (NE‐Bavaria, Germany) monitoring site indicates a relationship between the nutrient content of needles and the state of soil solution acidity. The soil at the site is very acidic and has relatively small pools of exchangeable Ca and Mg. The trees show medium to severe nutrient deficiency symptoms such as needle loss and needle yellowing. The Ca and Mg concentrations in throughfall decreased significantly during the last 12 years parallel to the significant decline in the throughfall of H⁺ and SO₄^2— concentrations. Soil solution concentrations of SO₄^2—, Ca and Mg generally decreased while the pH value remained stable. Aluminum concentrations decreased slightly, but only at a depth of 90 cm. Simultaneously a decrease in the molar Ca/Al and Mg/Al ratios in the soil solution was observed. Ca and Mg contents in the spruce needles decreased, emphasizing the relevance of soil solution changes for tree nutrition. The reasons for the delay in ecosystem recovery are due to a combination of the following two factors: (1) the continued high concentrations of NO₃^— and SO₄^2— in the soil solution leading to high Al concentrations and low pH values and, (2) the decreased rates of Ca and Mg deposition cause a correlated decrease in the concentration of Ca and Mg in the soil solution, since little Ca and Mg is present in the soil's exchangeable cation pools. It is our conclusion that detrimental soil conditions with respect to Mg and Ca nutrition as well as to Al stress are not easily reversed by the decreasing deposition of H⁺ and SO₄^2—. Thus, forest management is still confronted with the necessity of frequent liming to counteract the nutrient depletion in soils and subsequent nutrient deficiencies in trees.     

Effect of ground water high in Mg on cation exchange of Na-illite in the presence of CaCO3

Ground waters with electrical conductivity of 4.9–7.4 mmhos/cm, a pH of 7.7–8.8 and a Mg/Ca ratio of 0.8–41.5 were equilibrated with a Na-illite in the presence and absence of CaCO₃. In the presence of CaCO₃, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable $\text{Ca+Mg}$ and the exchangeable Ca/Mg of the equilibrated clay increased but exchangeable Mg and Na decreased. The pH values of the ground waters were positively correlated with (1) exchangeable Ca, (2) exchangeable $\text{Ca+Mg}$, and (3) exchangeable Ca/Mg ratio, both in the presence and absence of CaCO₃.     

Cenozoic paleosols San Diego area,California

Ancient weathering profiles provide mute evidence of the major climatic regimes that operated in the southern California area during the Cenozoic Era. A tropical climate during part of the Paleocene and Early Eocene caused severe weathering of Jurassic andesitic rocks, Cretaceous granitic rocks and Late Cretaceous and Early Eocene terrigenous rocks. Erosional remnants of this paleosol exist as buried soils up to 30 meters thick and as exhumed soils on some modern hills. The main weathering horizon is overwhelmingly composed of kaolinite with residual quartz grains and minor amounts of iron oxides. This tropical climate was in effect at 35° to 40° north latitude.Late Eocene sedimentary rocks were deposited under a semi-arid climate with 50 to 60 cm of annual rainfall that was concentrated during one season. This interpretation is based on: 1) the dominance of conglomerate and immature sandstone in the Upper Eocene section compared to the relative scarcity of claystone, 2) the immaturity of the clay mineral suite which is dominated by smectite and vermiculite, 3) the presence of fractured clasts presumably split by growth and differential expansion of salts, 4) the multiple caliche beds that individually are up to one meter thick, and 5) the paleohydrology of the fluvial deposits which transported rhyolite gravels over 300 km distance from an eastern bedrock source about 4,000 m high in a river of 1.3 sinuosity with 100 year flood discharges up to 30,000 m³/sec.The extensive marine terraces in San Diego are mantled by relict soils that record composite weathering characteristics from glacial and interglacial climates from Late Pliocene to present. Maximal development of the paleosol includes an ironstone concretion layer (B_ir horizon) above an illuvial clay layer (B_t horizon) which rests on an iron- and silicacemented hardpan (C_m horizon).     

Cenozoic paleosols San Diego area,California

Ancient weathering profiles provide mute evidence of the major climatic regimes that operated in the southern California area during the Cenozoic Era. A tropical climate during part of the Paleocene and Early Eocene caused severe weathering of Jurassic andesitic rocks, Cretaceous granitic rocks and Late Cretaceous and Early Eocene terrigenous rocks. Erosional remnants of this paleosol exist as buried soils up to 30 meters thick and as exhumed soils on some modern hills. The main weathering horizon is overwhelmingly composed of kaolinite with residual quartz grains and minor amounts of iron oxides. This tropical climate was in effect at 35° to 40° north latitude.Late Eocene sedimentary rocks were deposited under a semi-arid climate with 50 to 60 cm of annual rainfall that was concentrated during one season. This interpretation is based on: 1) the dominance of conglomerate and immature sandstone in the Upper Eocene section compared to the relative scarcity of claystone, 2) the immaturity of the clay mineral suite which is dominated by smectite and vermiculite, 3) the presence of fractured clasts presumably split by growth and differential expansion of salts, 4) the multiple caliche beds that individually are up to one meter thick, and 5) the paleohydrology of the fluvial deposits which transported rhyolite gravels over 300 km distance from an eastern bedrock source about 4,000 m high in a river of 1.3 sinuosity with 100 year flood discharges up to 30,000 m³/sec.The extensive marine terraces in San Diego are mantled by relict soils that record composite weathering characteristics from glacial and interglacial climates from Late Pliocene to present. Maximal development of the paleosol includes an ironstone concretion layer (B_ir horizon) above an illuvial clay layer (B_t horizon) which rests on an iron- and silicacemented hardpan (C_m horizon).     

Estimation of Mineral Weathering Rates under Field Conditions Based on Base Cation Budget and Strontium Isotope Ratios

Base cation (BC) concentrations of rain, throughfall, percolation from leaf litter, and soil solution were periodically measured in two forests: Kannondai (red pine stand on volcanic soil) and Yasato (deciduous stands on granitic soil). Calculation of a BC budget gave the rate of BC release from soils; the BCs originated from mineral weathering and cation exchange. Weathering rates under field conditions were estimated from the Sr isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) of water and soil samples. Isotope ratios decreased in the order rain > throughfall > percolation > soil solution. Clay and silt had extremely high isotope ratios; this suggests that the sandy fraction, whose isotope ratio was smaller than that of the soil solution, was the main contributor to mineral weathering. Estimated BC weathering rates (kmol_c·ha^?1y^?1) were 1.16 for Ca and 0.57 for Mg at Kannondai, and 0.82 for Ca and 0.51 for Mg at Yasato. The unexpected high weathering rate of granitic soil in Yasao was due to the wide coverage of the original parent material by volcanic ash. The contribution of cation exchange derived by subtraction was a little smaller than the weathering rates and was similar to the values estimated from a dynamic model that we developed.