Acidification research in Sweden - national and international perspectives

Acidification research since 1968, especially in terrestrial ecosystems in Sweden, is briefly described, as reflected in the Swedish contributions to five important meetings and the international discussion during them. These meetings were held in Stockholm, June 1972, Columbus, Ohio, May 1975, Telemark, Norway, June 1976, Sandefjord, Norway, March 1980 and Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, September 1985. For the period after 1985 some important research themes are highlighted: paleoecology, soil resist ance to acidification, processes at the soil/surface water interface, and last but not least, deposition of nitrogen compounds both as contributing to acidification and as causing other problems, described as nitrogen saturation. It is concluded that the scientific community has become much more alert to alarm signals concerning environmental risks during the last three decades, and that this has also been reflected to a certain extent in political decisions. Concerning the acidic precipitation and its environmental consequences there have been changes in scientific focussing, in research funding, and in general attitude in many countries during this period. Still, it is believed that the Swedish part of the story merits a special interest, both because of stimulating hypotheses put forward at an early stage, and because these hypotheses, as well as later ones, have been followed up in a fairly consistent way.