Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
(N/A)
ORONO,ME 04469
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The research group led by Project Director Kahl and collaborators at the University of Maine, Orono (UMaine) seeks to acquire a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Flame AAS). The group's research focus is on Natural Resources and Environmental Quality. UMaine has been involved in atmospheric deposition research for 25 years, including current projects to evaluate the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments. Recently, this research has focused on the decline in base cations (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium) in surface waters of northeastern North America as a leading explanation of the lack of `recovery' from acidification. This effect has been documented most recently by the regionally-extensive EPA assessment led by Dr. John Stoddard (EPA) and Kahl. Although there are many projects that will benefit from a Flame AAS, research questions surrounding base cations is the main motivation for this acquisition. The decline in base cations in surface waters reflects a
decline in cation export from forested watersheds. The potential implications of this change for soil chemistry are many, both for the forests and for the aquatic ecosystems associated with these forests. A Flame AAS will be an integral analytical component for this work in determining base cation concentrations. In particular, historical base cation data were collected using Flame AAS, so to obtain the best trend estimates, historical data is compared directly with ongoing collections of cation data using Flame AAS.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Project Director Kahl and collaborators at the University of Maine, Orono (UMaine) need to acquire a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Flame AAS) for use on various research projects. The emphasis is on atmospheric deposition research focusing on the decline in base cations (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium) in surface waters of northeastern North America as a leading explanation of the lack of recovery from acidification. We are emphasizing the aspects of our research program that address the changes in base cations in waters draining forested watersheds, because we are requesting equipment to measure base cations. However, the overall implications of our research are highly relevant to issues beyond base cations, such as nitrogen saturation in forested watersheds, aluminum toxicity to tree roots, and the inter-relatedness of acidic deposition and climate change for the future of our forests. The Mitchell Center is 88% funded by research grants. Much of
this funding is related to surface water chemistry and at least indirectly related to atmospheric deposition. Our analytical needs are focused on chemistry that is done using Flame AAS. This technology is highly cost-effective compared to more expensive technology such as ICP. Recent advances in Flame AAS technology, such as automated multi-element analysis, will expand the suite of analyses offered by Mitchell Center researchers. The instrument will also be key in our recruitment and training of graduate students who are central to our research operations.
Project Methods
Researchers affiliated with the UMaine Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research (Mitchell Center) have been conducting research into atmospheric deposition since the late 1970s. This research includes site-specific research and surveys of statistical populations: 1) Ongoing research (since 1983) relevant to the Clean Air Act, for the EPA EMAP program, on surface water chemistry draining forested watersheds from Maine to the Adirondacks (e.g. Kahl et al., 2004); 2) USDA-funded re-survey of the EPA Eastern Lake Survey lakes from 1984 (to be conducted in 2004), to expand our understanding of the trend responses in surface waters draining forested watersheds; 3) Bear Brook Watershed in Maine (BBWM), a whole ecosystem manipulation experiment that has been underway since 1988 that encompasses two contiguous 10-hectare forested watersheds (e.g. Fernandez et al., 2003; Norton et al. 1999; Kahl et al, 1999); 4) PRIMENet, pair of gauged,
40-hectare, watersheds at Acadia National Park with an experimental design based on natural differences in forests and soils induced by a 1947 wildfire (e.g. Kahl and Nelson, 2004, Nielsen and Kahl, in press); 5) Periodic surveys of two sub-populations of lakes that are especially sensitive to acidic deposition; high elevation lakes and seepage lakes. High elevation lakes are canary indicator lakes located in sensitive forested watersheds (Fernandez et al., 2003; Kahl et al., 1991). In addition, this equipment will support many other projects at the Mitchell Center, and will offer opportunities for new research. The latest generation of Flame AAS units offers multi-element analytical capabilities using a lamp turret. This equipment will broaden our analytical capabilities to include trace metals for which we are currently purchasing analyses, or choosing not to do the research. Purchasing analyses is not the preferred option when we are training graduate students. Our current research
on groundwater, forestry and urban best management practices; small watersheds; and climate change involves collecting data on arsenic, lead, zinc, aluminum, mercury, iron, and copper. The advantage of multi-element scanning will open new opportunities for the research group.