The biogeochemistry of a coastal old‐growth forested watershed in Olympic National Park, Washington, was examined. Objectives were to determine: (1) concentrations of major cations and anions and dissolved organic C (DOC) in precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, soil solution and the stream; (2) nutrient input/output budgets; and (3) nutrient retention mechanisms in the watershed. Stemilow was more acidic (pH 4.0–4.5) than throughfall (pH 5.1) and precipitation (pH 5.3). Organic acids were important contributors to acidity in throughfall and stemflow and tree species influenced pH. Soil solution pH averaged 6.2 at 40 cm depth. Stream pH was higher (7.6). Sodium (54.0 μeq L‐1) and Cl (57.6 μeq L−1) were the dominant ions in precipitation, reflecting the close proximity to the ocean. Throughfall and stemflow were generally enriched in cations, especially K. Cation concentrations in soil solutions were generally less than those in stemilow. Ion concentrations increased in the stream. Dominant ions were Ca (759.7 μeq L−1), Na (174.4 μeq L−1), HCO3 (592.0 μeq L−1), and SO4 (331.5 μeq L−1) with seasonal peaks in the fall. Bedrock weathering strongly influenced stream chemistry. Highest average NO3 concentrations were in the stream (5.2 μeq L−1) with seasonal peaks in the fall and lowest concentrations in the growing season. Nitrogen losses were similar to inputs; annual inputs were 4.8 kg/ha (not including fixation) and stream losses were 7.1 kg/ha. Despite the age and successional status of the forest, plant uptake is an important N retention mechanism in this watershed.

Human induced long‐term changes in precipitation and stream chemistry have been observed in eastern North America and Europe, but few long‐term studies have been conducted in coastal western North America. The objectives of this research were to determine: (1) time trends in precipitation and stream chemistry in a pristine old‐growth forest watershed, and (2) seasonal patterns in precipitation and stream chemistry. It was conducted in 58 ha West Twin Creek Watershed, Hoh River Valley, Olympic National Park, Washington from 1984 to 1993. Vegetation consists of old‐growth forest, with western hemlock, Douglas‐fir, western redcedar, Pacific silver fir, and Sitka spruce being the dominant tree species. Annual precipitation varied from 2336 to 4518 mm during the study period with the majority of the rain falling between October and May. Chemistry of precipitation was strongly dominated by oceanic influences with Na and Cl being the dominant ions. The chemistry of the stream was influenced by bedrock weathering and was dominated by Ca, HCO3, and SO4 and was not strongly related to precipitation chemistry. The pH of precipitation averaged 5.3 over time and ranged from 4.3 to 7.1, while the stream pH averaged 7.5 and ranged from 5.5 to 9.0. There were few long‐term trends in the chemical constituents of bulk precipitation or stream water with the exception of a slight decrease in NO3 in precipitation and an increase of SO4 in stream water. A trend of decreasing concentrations of Ca, Mg and Na in precipitation also occurred. There were no significant seasonal patterns in precipitation although the highest SO4 concentrations usually occurred in late spring and summer perhaps due marine algal activity. Strong seasonal trends occurred in concentrations of HCO3, SO4, Ca, Mg, and Na in stream water resulting from weathering and stream flow patterns, with highest ion concentrations occurring just before the onset of the rainy season. Pulses of NO3 in the stream were observed during fall and early winter resulting from the release of NO3 which had accumulated in soils or sediments.

Nitrification and denitrification were measured in a 120-year-old Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss forest in southwestern Alberta. Nitrifying activity could not be detected using short-term incubations of F–H and upper mineral soil horizons. Long-term incubations for nitrifying potential indicated that nitrifying organisms were present. The results suggest that the population of nitrifying organisms must have been small, their activity was limited, or the microhabitat necessary for their activity was not adequately simulated by the soil slurries in the short-term incubations. Low rates of denitrification were detected but probably did not represent a substantial loss of N from the soil–plant system. Low rates of denitrification may have been due to a lack of substrate (NO3−), reflecting the low rates of nitrification.

The objective of this study was to examine oceanic influences, seasonal variation, and effect of distance from the ocean on the chemistry of bulk precipitation falling on the Pacific coast of Washington State. Bulk precipitation was collected at Sites 4, 13, 24, and 31 km inland from the Pacific Ocean. Mean electrical conductivity of precipitation ranged from 0.47 to 1.02 mS m-i and mean pH ranged from 5.3 to $.6. Annual precipitation increased from 2780 mm at 4 km to approximately 3500 mm at 13 km from the coast and remained constant through 31 km inland. Precipitation was highest in the late fall and winter months and lowest during the summer. Rates of ion deposition had a similar seasonal pattern to that of precipitation. Concentrations of CI, SO4, Mg, Na, and excess Ca (Ca in excess of expected sea salt levels) were highest nearest to the coast and were reflected in higher electrical conductivity in precipitation falling closest to the coast. Much of the change in precipitation chemistry occurred between 4 and 13 km from the coast. This corresponds to the change in precipitation and suggests that the changes in chemistry are dilution effects due to increased rainfall. Annual deposition of Na, K, Mg, Ca, excess Ca, NO3, and CI were lower at the collection site farthest from the ocean. Sulfate deposition remained relatively unchanged with