Atmospheric deposition and exceedances of critical loads from 1800-2025 for the conterminous United States.

ABSTRACT: Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) has increased dramatically over pre-industrial levels, with many potential impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Quantitative thresholds, termed "critical loads" (CLs), have been developed to estimate the deposition rate above which damage is thought to occur. However, there remains no comprehensive comparison of when, where, and over what time periods individual CLs have been exceeded. We addressed this knowledge gap by combining several published data sources for historical and contemporary deposition, and overlaying these on six CL types from the National Critical Loads Database (NCLDv2.5; terrestrial acidification, aquatic acidification, lichen, nitrate leaching, plant community composition, and forest-tree health) to exami

SUBMITTER: Clark CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8637495 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature