THE CHEMISTRY OF THE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE IN A MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FOREST IN GREECE

摘要

The chemistry of the hydrological cycle was examined in a beech forest stand located in the mountain of Ossa, in central eastern Greece, during 2004. Specifically, chemical parameters were measured in bulk deposition, throughfall, stemflow and stream water. It was found that the annual volume-weighted means of pH, conductivity and concentrations of alkalinity, Ca~(2+) and Mg~(2+), were higher in stream water than in the other components of the hydro-logical cycle. The pH of bulk deposition was significantly and negatively correlated with the nitrate and sulphate ions, indicating the presence of nitric and sulphuric acid deposition. The fluxes of all ions in rain, throughfall, stemflow and stream water were also calculated, and their importance was discussed. The concentrations of ammonium and nitrate N in stream water followed similar patterns in time, and reached a peak value in September, when the plant growth period was close to its end.