THE RECORD OF ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION ON A RAINWATER-DEPENDENT PEATLAND

Rainwater-dependent peatlands record both particulate and soluble influxes, and they are not complicated by processes in the catchment. The timescale for cores from a suitable peatland in Southwest Scotland was established by a combination of 14C "wiggle matching', pollen events, 210Pb dating and the 241Am event. Retention of deposited elements varied greatly from less than 12% (Na) to complete retention (N). Hummocks retained more than hollows: the quotient was 1.2-1.8 for elements such as Al (associated with particles) and up to 5-10 for Mn, Fe and Zn. The vertical scale in profiles should be as cumulative dry mass or, better, as dry mass after reconstructing losses by decay. These give vertical scales that are approximately linear with age. Elements differ greatly in the shape of their concentration profile as a result of varying influx and as a result of relocation in the peat. -from Authors