Effects of acid depositions on forests and soils

Abstract

It is unnecessary to emphasize that this subject is both important and emotive. Concern about damage from acid depositions — polluted air and rainwater — has been increasing with the realization that damage to forests in Central Europe is spreading and intensifying and has also appeared in southern Sweden. There is naturally concern as to whether this phenomenon will appear in Britain — indeed there have been allegations that British forests are already suffering from acid deposition damage. Our difficulty is in arriving at an understanding not only of the mechanisms by which pollutants and other stressing factors may affect forests, but also how much of the damage seen is due to pollutants and ow much would have occurred in their absence. The paper also considers secondary pollutants, such as ozone, which are not strictly part of the acid depositions.