Mid-term trends in acid precipitation, streamwater chemistry and element budgets in the strengbach catchment (Vosges Mountains, France)

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In the Vosges Mountains (NE of France), integrated plot-catchment studies have been carried out since 1985 in the Strengbach basin to study the influence of acid atmospheric inputs on surface water quality and element budgets. In this paper, available mid-term time series (1985-1991) have been considered to detect obvious trends, if any, in surface water chemistry and element budgets. Air quality data showed a slight decline for SO2, whereas NO2 slightly increased over the period, but these trends are not very significant. This is in agreement with increased N concentration (mainly as NH 4 + ) and with the stability of SO 4 2- in open field precipitation. Because of a significant decrease in rainfall amount over the period, only inputs of NH 4 + increased significantly whereas H+ and SO 4 2+ inputs declined. In spring and streamwaters, pH and dissolved Si concentration increased mainly as a result of a reduced flow. Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO—3- concentrations remained stable whereas Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO 4 2+ concentrations declined significantly. Only NO 3 - concentration increased significantly in springwaters. The catchment budgets revealed significant losses of base cations, Si and SO 4 2- . These losses decreased over the period. Nitrogen was retained in the ecosystem. However, a longer record is needed to determine whether or not changes in surface water chemistry have resulted from short-term flow reductions or long-term changes in input-output ion budgets. This is specially true with N because the decline in SO 4 2- output was accompanied by N accumulation.