Abstract
Cloud and fog water constitutes an important hydrological input to specific ecosystems1–3. Recently, questions have been raised about the chemical composition of clouds and fog with reference to their potential role in adding chemicals such as nutrients, mineral acids and trace metals to such ecosystems. There are few data on the chemistry of cloud and fog water; those that exist suggest generally low pH values and high concentrations of major inorganic cations, anions and trace metals4–7, especially when compared with rain water collected from the same or nearby locations8,9. Here we present the first analysis of a widespread, episodic cloud/fog event, using samples collected during August 1984 at six non-urban sites in the eastern United States. The pH was extremely low (2.8–3.09) and concentrations of sulphate and nitrate were 7–43 times greater than those for average precipitation at four eastern sites, and higher than previously reported values for cloud/fog water in the eastern United States. This suggests that such water may add ecologically significant amounts of pollutants and nutrients to many ecosystems in the region.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azvedo, J. & Morgan, D. L. Ecology 55, 1135–1141 (1974).
Harr, R. D. Wat. Res. Bull. 18, 785–788 (1982).
Kerfoot, O. For. Abstr. 29, 8–20 (1968).
Lovett, G. M., Reiners, W. A. & Olson, R. K. Science 218, 1303–1304 (1982).
Jacob, D. J., Waldman, J. M., Munger, J. W. & Hoffman, M. R. Tellus 36 B, 272–285 (1984).
Castillo, R. A., Kadlecek, J. A. & McLaren, S. Wat. Air Soil Pollut. 24, 323–328 (1985).
Scherbatskoy, T. & Bliss, M. Proc. APCA Specialty Meeting: The Meteorology of Acidic Deposition (Air Pollution Control Association, Pittsburgh, 1984).
Dollard, G. J., Unsworth, M. H. & Harve, M. J. Nature 302, 241–243 (1983)
Waldman, J. M. et al. Science 218, 677–679 (1982).
Keene, W. C., Galloway, J. N. & Holden, D. J. Jr, J. geophys. Res. 88, 5122–5130 (1983).
Keene, W. C. & Galloway, J. N. Atmos. Envir. 18, 2491–2497 (1984).
Keene, W. C., Pszenny, A. A. P., Galloway, J. N. & Hawley, M. E. J. geophys. Res. (in the press).
Dana, M. T. & Easter, R. C. Atmos. Envir. (submitted).
Likens, G. E. (ed.) An Ecosystem Approach to Aquatic Ecology, 19 (Springer, New York, 1985).
Bormann, F. H. Bioscience 35, 434–441 (1985).
Granett, A. L. & Musselman, R. C. Atmos. Envir. 18, 887–890 (1984).
Scherbatskoy, T. & Klein, R. J. envir. Qual. 12, 189–195 (1983).
Wood, T. & Bormann, F. H. Ambio 4, 169–171 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Weathers, K., Likens, G., Bormann, F. et al. A regional acidic cloud/fog water event in the eastern United States. Nature 319, 657–658 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/319657a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/319657a0
This article is cited by
-
Medium, Vector, and Connector: Fog and the Maintenance of Ecosystems
Ecosystems (2020)
-
Long-Term Trends in Cloud and Rain Chemistry on Mount Washington, New Hampshire
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution (2013)
-
Characterization of mineral particles in winter fog of Beijing analyzed by TEM and SEM
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2010)
-
Fog Water and Ecosystem Function: Heterogeneity in a California Redwood Forest
Ecosystems (2009)
-
Accumulation of persistent organochlorine compounds in mountains of western Canada
Nature (1998)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
