Clearcutting Affects Stream Chemistry in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

摘要

Commercial clearcutting of northern hardwood forests changed the chemistry of the streams that drained from them. By the second year after cutting specific conductance doubled, nitrate increased tenfold, calcium tripled, and sodium, magnesium, and potassium doubled. Chloride and ammonium did not change; sulfate decreased. Concentrations of most ions returned to reference levels after 4 years though sulfate remained depressed, potassium remained elevated, and acidity decreased.