Estimate of annual NH 3 dry deposition to a fumigated ombrotrophic bog using concentration-dependent deposition velocities

Abstract

Estimates of the dry deposition of ammonia (NH 3) gas in a field fumigation experiment on an ombrotrophic bog have been made using the inferential technique, with measured wind speed at 2 m, and air concentrations at two heights above the vegetation. The parameters for a concentration-dependent surface resistance term have been derived from flux measurements over the same vegetation in a chamber study, separating stomatal from non-stomatal resistances. Annual NH 3-N deposition in each of the 4 years 2003–2006 was estimated to increase from 3.0 ± 0.2 kg N ha −1 y −1 in ambient air, with an NH 3 concentration at 0.5 m above the canopy of 0.7 μg m −3, to 50–70 kg N ha −1 y −1 where annual average air concentrations were 70–90 μg m −3 and concentrations during fumigation were up to 1600 μg m −3. The equivalent deposition velocities (at z = 0.5 m) were 0.016 m s −1 in ambient air and 0.003 m s −1 at 100 μg m −3. The differences between annual deposition estimates made from independent air concentration data at 0.1 m and 0.5 m above the canopy were small for distances more than 10 m from the source, after vertical mixing was complete. Over 4 years (2003–2006) and at eight sampling points more than 10 m from the NH 3 source, the mean difference between the dry deposition estimates, using NH 3 concentrations measured independently at 0.1 m and 0.5 m above the canopy, was 2%. Use of a constant surface resistance, with no concentration dependence, as commonly used in inferential models of dry deposition, would have predicted deposition up to eight times too large.