Bulk deposition and throughfall fluxes of elements in the Bohemian Forest (central Europe) from 1998 to 2009

We measured element concentrations and fluxes in bulk precipitation (two sites) and throughfall (four sites) in Norway spruce mountain stands in the Bohemian Forest (Czech Republic) from 1991–2009, with the aim to evaluate net atmospheric inputs of nutrients to the area, and long-term trends in acidic deposition. The average net atmospheric inputs of nutrients were 11, 4, 9, 62, 62, 45, 26, and 0.7-1.3 mmol/m2/yr for Ca, Mg, K, nitrate, ammonium, total organic N, S, and total P (TP), respectively. The TP deposition was affected by a notable contribution from local dust and pollen sources. Throughfall pH increased from 3.6–3.7 in 1991–1994 to 4.7–5.0 in 2006–2009, due to average declines in the sulphate plus nitrate concentrations by 202 µeq/l and the H concentration by 147 µeq/l. The decline in throughfall concentrations of sulphate (by 184 µeq/l) was the dominant driving force for the pH increase.