ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION IN COMPLEX FOREST LANDSCAPES

Atmospheric dry deposition in eight forest edges was estimated by means of throughfall and bulk precipitation measurements. Dry deposition was found to be enhanced in the first 5 edge heights. Deposition enhancement was strongly dependent on forest density, edge aspect and on the gas or particle under consideration. Incorporating edge effects in present-day deposition models will offer prospects to estimate deposition to individual forest stands as well as regional deposition amounts more accurately. From information available in the 'Dutch Forest Statistics', it became clear that at least 50% of the total forested area in the Netherlands is influenced by edge effects. By neglecting edge effects, dry deposition of acidifying compounds to Dutch forests is underestimated by current deposition models by approximately 10%.