Document: KAT-3-63-16

Cloudwater nitrogen chemistry from remote, southern Chile: Whence come the nutrients?

WEATHERS, K.C.*, G.M.LOVETT, G.E.LIKENS and N.F.M.CARACO

Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA 1

Abstract:
Cloudwater deposition may be a very important source of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), to near-coast ecosystems of southern Chile. Over the past few years, we have collected cloudwater samples from Chiloe Island, Chile. Organic N (ON) dominated total N content in cloudwater from this site in southern Chile. Cloudwater ON concentration was 300% greater than inorganic N and over 1000% greater than reported ON in precipitation from remote locations. In contrast, our measurements of cloudwater chemistry from more human-impacted sites in the northeastern USA showed lower ON concentrations and inorganic N was dominant. The main source of N in Chile cloudwater may not be human activity, but rather the adjacent ocean, where there is an active area of upwelling. Cloudwater N is high enough to contribute significantly to the N-economy of Chilean coastal forests.

Keywords: cloudwater, N inputs, Chile, organic N

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This abstract is being presented at: 3:30 PM in session:
Poster Session #15: Nutrient Cycling.