scholarly journals Bog plant/lichen tissue nitrogen and sulfur concentrations as indicators of emissions from oil sands development in Alberta, Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 193 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kelman Wieder ◽  
Melanie A. Vile ◽  
Kimberli D. Scott ◽  
Cara M. Albright ◽  
James C. Quinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Sands ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Gaseous Emissions ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Sphagnum Fuscum ◽  
S Cycling ◽  
S Deposition ◽  
Tissue Chemistry

AbstractIncreasing gaseous emissions of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) associated with oil sands development in northern Alberta (Canada) has led to changing regional wet and dry N and S deposition regimes. We assessed the potential for using bog plant/lichen tissue chemistry (N and S concentrations, C:N and C:S ratios, in 10 plant/lichen species) to monitor changing atmospheric N and S deposition through sampling at five bog sites, 3–6 times per growing season from 2009 to 2016. During this 8-year period, oil sands N emissions steadily increased, while S emissions steadily decreased. We examined the following: (1) whether each species showed changes in tissue chemistry with increasing distance from the Syncrude and Suncor upgrader stacks (the two largest point sources of N and S emissions); (2) whether tissue chemistry changed over the 8 year period in ways that were consistent with increasing N and decreasing S emissions from oil sands facilities; and (3) whether tissue chemistry was correlated with growing season wet deposition of NH4+-N, NO3−-N, or SO42−-S. Based on these criteria, the best biomonitors of a changing N deposition regime were Evernia mesomorpha, Sphagnum fuscum, and Vaccinium oxycoccos. The best biomonitors of a changing S deposition regime were Evernia mesomorpha, Cladonia mitis, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Vaccinium oxycoccos, and Picea mariana. Changing N and S deposition regimes in the oil sands region appear to be influencing N and S cycling in what once were pristine ombrotrophic bogs, to the extent that these bogs may effectively monitor future spatial and temporal patterns of deposition.

scholarly journals Effects of five years of frequent N additions, with or without acidity, on the growth and below-ground dynamics of a young Sitka spruce stand growing on an acid peat: implications for sustainability

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Sheppard ◽  
A. Crossley ◽  
F. J. Harvey ◽  
U. Skiba ◽  
P. Coward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Four Blocks ◽  
S Deposition

Abstract. A field manipulation study was established to demonstrate effects of simulated wet N and S deposition on a young (planted 1986) stand of Sitka spruce growing on a predominantly organic soil in an area of low (8–10 kg N ha-1 yr-1) background N deposition in the Scottish borders. From 1996, treatments (six) were applied to the canopies of ten-tree plots in each of four blocks. N was provided as NH4NO3, either with H2SO4 (pH 2.5) at 48 or 96 kg N ha-1 yr-1 inputs or without, at 48 kg N ha-1 yr-1 along with wet (rain water) and dry controls (scaffolding) and a S treatment (Na2SO4). Positive responses (+ >20% over 5 years) with respect to stem area increment were measured in response to N inputs, irrespective of whether acid was included. The positive response to N was not dose related and was achieved against falling base cation concentrations in the foliage, particularly with respect to K. The results suggest young trees are able to buffer the low nutrient levels and produce new growth when there is sufficient N. Inputs of 96 kg N ha-1 yr-1, in addition to ambient N inputs, on this site exceeded tree demand resulting in elevated foliar N, N2O losses and measurable soil water N. These excessive N inputs did not reduce stem area growth. Keywords: acid, canopy application, nitrogen, acid organic soil, simulated wet deposition, soil water, sulphur, young Sitka spruce

scholarly journals Multi-model study of HTAP II on sulphur and nitrogen deposition

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiani Tan ◽  
Joshua S. Fu ◽  
Frank Dentener ◽  
Jian Sun ◽  
Louisa Emmons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
East Asia ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Wet Deposition ◽  
Task Force ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
S Deposition

Abstract. This study uses multi-model ensemble results of 11 models from the 2nd phase of Task Force Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution (HTAP II) to calculate the global sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) deposition in 2010. Modelled wet deposition is evaluated with observation networks in North America, Europe and Asia. The modelled results agree well with observations, with 76–83 % of stations having predicted within ±50 % of observations. The results underestimate SO42−, NO3− and NH4+ wet depositions in some European and East Asian stations, but overestimate NO3− wet deposition in Eastern United States. Inter-comparison with previous projects (PhotoComp, ACCMIP and HTAP I) shows HTPA II has considerably improved the estimation of deposition at European and East Asian stations. Modelled dry deposition is generally higher than the “inferential” data calculated by observed concentration and modelled velocity in North America, but the inferential data has high uncertainty, too. The global S deposition is 84 Tg(S) in 2010, with 49 % of the deposits on continental regions and 51 % on ocean (19 % on coastal). The global N deposition consists of 59 Tg(N) oxidized nitrogen (NOy) deposition and 64 Tg(N) reduced nitrogen (NHx) deposition in 2010. 65 % of N is deposited on the continental regions and 35 % is on ocean (15 % on coastal). The estimated outflow of pollution from land to ocean is about 4 Tg(S) for S deposition and 18 Tg(N) for N deposition. Compared our results to the results in 2001 from HTAP I, we find that the global distributions of S and N depositions have changed considerably during the last 10 years. The global S deposition decreases 2 Tg(S) (3 %) from 2001 to 2010, with significant decreases in Europe (5 Tg(S) and 55 %), North America (3 Tg(S) and 29 %) and Russia (2 Tg(S) and 26 %), and increases in South Asia (2 Tg(S) and 42 %) and the Middle East (1 Tg(S) and 44% ). The global N deposition increases by 7 Tg(N) (6 %), mainly contributed by South Asia (5 Tg(N) and 39 %), East Asia (4 Tg(N) and 21 %) and Southeast Asia (2 Tg(N) and 21 %). The NHx deposition is increased with no control policy on NH3 emission in North America. On the other hand, NOy deposition starts to dominate in East Asia (especially China) due to boosted NOx emission in recent years.

Changing sensitivity of global vegetation productivity to hydro-climate drivers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wantong Li ◽  
Matthias Forkel ◽  
Mirco Migliavacca ◽  
Markus Reichstein ◽  
Sophia Walther ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Terrestrial Vegetation ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Vegetation Productivity ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Global Vegetation

<p>Terrestrial vegetation couples the global water, energy and carbon exchange between the atmosphere and the land surface. Thereby, vegetation productivity is determined by a multitude of energy- and water-related variables. While the emergent sensitivity of productivity to these variables has been inferred from Earth observations, its temporal evolution during the last decades is unclear, as well as potential changes in response to trends in hydro-climatic conditions. In this study, we analyze the changing sensitivity of global vegetation productivity to hydro-climate conditions by using satellite-observed vegetation indices (i.e. NDVI) at the monthly timescale from 1982–2015. Further, we repeat the analysis with simulated leaf area index and gross primary productivity from the TRENDY vegetation models, and contrast the findings with the observation-based results. We train a random forest model to predict anomalies of productivity from a comprehensive set of hydro-meteorological variables (temperature, solar radiation, vapor pressure deficit, surface and root-zone soil moisture and precipitation), and to infer the sensitivity to each of these variables. By training models from temporal independent subsets of the data we detect the evolution of sensitivity across time. Results based on observations show that vegetation sensitivity to energy- and water-related variables has significantly changed in many regions across the globe. In particular we find decreased (increased) sensitivity to temperature in very warm (cold) regions. Thereby, the magnitude of the sensitivity tends to differ between the early and late growing seasons. Likewise, we find changing sensitivity to root-zone soil moisture with increases predominantly in the early growing season and decreases in the late growing season. For better understanding the mechanisms behind the sensitivity changes, we analyse land-cover changes, hydro-climatic trends, and abrupt disturbances (e.g. drought, heatwave events or fires could result in breaking points of sensitivity evolution in the local interpretation). In summary, this study sheds light on how and where vegetation productivity changes its response to the drivers under climate change, which can help to understand possibly resulting changes in spatial and temporal patterns of land carbon uptake.</p>

scholarly journals Nitrogen dynamics in runoff from two small heathland catchments representing opposite extremes with respect to climate and N deposition in Norway

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ø. Kaste ◽  
B. L. Skjelkvåle
Keyword(s):  
Growing Season ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Humid Climate ◽  
N Dynamics ◽  
Snowmelt Flood ◽  
Catchment Size ◽  
Dormant Season ◽  
Dilution Effects

Abstract. Effects of contrasting climatic conditions and nitrogen (N) deposition levels on streamwater N dynamics are assessed at two small heathland catchments; Dalelva in northern Norway (69°N) and Øygard in southwestern Norway (58°N). The study comprises 11 years of data on climate, hydrology and N inputs/outputs from Dalelva and 8 years of corresponding data from Øygard. Both sites are comparable in catchment size, geology and land cover characteristics, but have large differences in climate and N deposition. Dalelva is characterised by a cold, arctic climate and low N deposition (2-3 kg N ha–1y–1), whereas the Øygard site has a more mild, humid climate with much larger N deposition (13–19 kg N ha–1yr–1). Streamwater nitrate (NO3‾) concentrations at Dalelva generally were negligible during the growing season, but showed a steady increase during the dormant season until a maximum of 40-100 μg N L–1 was reached just before snowmelt. At onset of the snowmelt flood, NO3‾ concentrations decreased momentarily to very low levels, suggesting that N eluted from the seasonal snowpack to a great extent was infiltrated and immobilised in the soils. At Øygard, flood peaks occurred frequently during all seasons, and usually there was no distinct spring flood. A lack of clear dilution effects from floods on streamwater N3‾ concentrations may indicate a relatively high NO3‾ leaching potential in this catchment. On average, the annual NO3– export was negligible at Dalelva (<0.1 kg N ha–1yr–1), while at Øygard it amounted to 3.0±0.3 (±1 s.d.) kg ha–1yr–1, or nearly 20% of the annual N deposition. In addition to this relatively high annual N loss, elevated NO3‾ concentrations during the growing season further indicate that the N supply at Øygard is in excess of the combined plant and microbial demand. Keywords: catchments, surface water, nitrogen deposition, nitrate leaching, climate, hydrology, snowmelt, Dalelva brook, Øygard brook

Differential Effects of High Atmospheric N and S Deposition on Bog Plant/Lichen Tissue and Porewater Chemistry across the Athabasca Oil Sands Region

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (23) ◽  
pp. 12630-12640 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kelman Wieder ◽  
Melanie A. Vile ◽  
Kimberli D. Scott ◽  
Cara M. Albright ◽  
Kelly J. McMillen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Sands ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands Region ◽  
Porewater Chemistry ◽  
S Deposition

Effects of altered atmospheric nutrient deposition from Alberta oil sands development on Sphagnum fuscum growth and C, N and S accumulation in peat

2016 ◽  
Vol 129 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kelman Wieder ◽  
Melanie A. Vile ◽  
Cara M. Albright ◽  
Kimberli D. Scott ◽  
Dale H. Vitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Sands ◽  
Nutrient Deposition ◽  
Sphagnum Fuscum ◽  
Alberta Oil Sands

Host response to inoculation and behaviour of introduced and indigenous ectomycorrhizal fungi of jack pine grown on oil-sands tailings

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1412-1421 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Danielson ◽  
S. Visser
Keyword(s):  
Ectomycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Host Response ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Short Root ◽  
Replacement Process ◽  
Shoot Weight

Pinusbanksiana Lamb, seedlings were inoculated with nine mycorrhizal fungi and outplanted on an oil-sands containment dyke that had been amended with muskeg peat. After one growing season, E-strain (Complexipes), Hebeloma sp., Thelephoraterrestris Ehrh.:Fr., and Laccariaproximo Boudier each formed mycorrhizae with greater than 40% of the new short roots within 10 cm of the stem. Cenococcumgeophilum Fr., Pisolithustinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch, Astraeushygrometricus (Pers.) Morgan, Lactariusparadoxus Beardslee & Burlingham, and Sphaerosporellabrunnea (Alb. & Schw.:Fr.) Svrcek & Kubika each formed mycorrhizae with less than 6% of the short roots on egressed laterals. Of the introduced fungi, only E-strain was present in substantial quantities after 3 years. The quantity of short roots converted to mycorrhizae by indigenous fungi was 4, 33, and 72% after 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The change in mycorrhizal fungi appeared to be a noncompetitive replacement process, in which the original short root resident fungus died in the near absence of mycorrhizal fungi. At the end of the 3rd year, the major indigenous fungi converting short roots to mycorrhizae were E-strain, Tuber sp., Suillus-like spp., Myceliumradicisatrovirens Melin, and an unidentified basidiomycete. Inoculation with E-strain and Thelephoraterrestris resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in shoot weight after 2 years compared with uninoculated seedlings.

Nitrogen- and sulfur-deposition-altered soil microbial community functions and enzyme activities in a boreal mixedwood forest in western Canada

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 777-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Lin Hu ◽  
Kangho Jung ◽  
De-Hui Zeng ◽  
Scott X. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial Community ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
C And N ◽  
Boreal Mixedwood Forest ◽  
The Impact ◽  
S Deposition

Chronic nitrogen (N) and (or) sulfur (S) deposition to boreal forests in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada, has been caused by oil sands mining and extraction/upgrading activities. It is important that we understand the response of microbial community function to chronic N and S deposition as microbial populations mediate soil carbon (C) and N cycles and affect ecosystem resilience. To evaluate the impact of N and (or) S deposition on soil microbial community functions, we conducted a simulated N and S deposition experiment in a boreal mixedwood forest with the following four treatments: control (CK), N addition (+N, 30 kg N·ha−1 as NH4NO3), S addition (+S, 30 kg S·ha−1 as NaSO4), and N plus S addition (+NS, 30 kg N·ha−1 + 30 kg S·ha−1), from 2006 to 2010. Nitrogen and (or) S deposition did not change soil organic carbon, total N, dissolved organic C and N, or soil microbial biomass C and N. Soil microbial community-level physiological profiles, however, were strongly affected by 5 years of N and (or) S addition. Soil β-glucosidase activity in the +NS treatment was greater than that in the +S treatment, and S addition decreased soil arylsulfatase; however, urease and dehydrogenase activities were not affected by the simulated N and (or) S deposition. Our data suggested that N and (or) S deposition strongly affected soil microbial community functions and enzymatic activities without changing soil microbial biomass in the studied boreal forest.

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