Field study at the Cervenohorske sedlo (1,013 m a.s.l.) (Hruby Jesenik Mountains, the Czech Republic, Central Europe) during 1999-2002 has been conducted in order to analyse the chemistry of rain/snow water using bulk and throughfall collector and fog/cloud water using modified passive Grunow collector. Fog water input to coniferous forest (Picea abies) was quantified using canopy balance method. For all samples pH, and the concentrations of [graphic removed] , Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Cl-, [graphic removed] , and [graphic removed] were measured. The volume-weighted mean pH value varied from 4.92 to 5.43 in open bulk precipitation, from 4.30 to 4.71 in throughfall and from 4.66 to 5.23 in fog water. The fog droplets generally contain higher ion concentrations than rainwater. The related enrichment factors lie between 1.1 and 10.7 for the relevant species. The fog samples exhibit higher concentrations of [graphic removed] and [graphic removed] as compared to the bulk samples during 2000-2002. [graphic removed] are 5.7-10.7 times more concentrated in fog water and [graphic removed] are 3.4-7.2 times more concentrated in fog water. These differences may result from the height and characteristics of formation of the droplets. Based on canopy balance method, the annual fog water inputs were estimated to be 22 and 19% of rain and snow annual amounts in 1999 and 2000, respectively. For [graphic removed] , [graphic removed] , and [graphic removed] , the contribution of fog deposition in total (bulk + fog) deposition is estimated as 54, 47, and 42%, respectively.

In six small catchments located at the Cordillera de la Costa in southern Chile (40° S), concentrations and fluxes of NO3-N, NH4-N, organic-N, total-N and total-P in bulk precipitation and runoff water were measured. The main objective of this study was to compare nitrogen and phosphorus retention of catchments with varying land cover of native forest and exotic plantations, in order to evaluate possible effects of land use change. Nitrate-N was the dominant fraction (>50%) of nitrogen loss, especially in the catchments dominated by exotic plantations. In the catchment with native forests, NO3 - only contributed with 34% of the nitrogen loss and DON was the main output with 55%. Annual NO3 - export was lower in the catchment with native forest compared to the catchments with exotic plantations where the streamflow output exceed the precipitation input. Average inputs of total-N were 2.6 kg ha-¹ year-¹ (DIN = 1.4 kg ha-¹ year-¹, DON = 1.2 kg ha-¹ year-¹) and outputs were 1.7 kg ha-¹ year-¹ (DIN = 1.2 kg ha-¹ year-¹, DON = 0.5 kg ha-¹ year-¹). Annual retention of total nitrogen fluctuated between 61% in a catchment dominated by native forests to 15% in catchments dominated by exotic plantations of Eucalyptus sp. Nitrogen retention was positively related with native forest coverage. The N retention capacity of the catchments could be both attributed to consequences of clear cutting practices and differences in vegetation cover.

In the study area physical and chemical factors control the composition of surface and groundwaters, which in turn determine the water quality of the “Biviere di Gela” lake. These factors combine to create diverse water types which change their compositional character spatially as rainfall infiltrates the soil zone, moves down a topographically defined flow path, and interacts with bedrock minerals. Low-salinity waters, which represent the initial stage of underground circulation, start dissolving calcium carbonate from the local rocks. The progressive increase in salinity, characterized by substantially higher Ca, SO₄, Na and Cl concentrations, suggests that dissolution of CaSO₄ and NaCl is an important process during water-rock interactions. The “Biviere di Gela” lake is often separated into two units (Lago Grande and Lago Piccolo). “Lago Grande” water is generally of Na-SO₄-Cl-type, whereas “Lago Piccolo” water is of Na-Cl-SO₄-type. Their total content of dissolved salts varies with season, the amount of rainfall, and inflow of ground and drainage water. Over time, an increasing trend towards greater salinity and also sudden changes in the relative abundances of Cl and SO₄ have been recorded for the “Lago Grande.” The isotope composition of the lake water appears to be affected by inflow of ground and surface waters and also by evaporative loss. The nitrate content of waters from the recharge basin is of particular concern because it contributes to lake eutrophication. The trace element contents do not evidence the presence of any significant metal contamination of lake waters, although a future potential hazard of metals bioaccumulation by the aquatic biota must be taken into consideration. Finally, a water balance for the basin shows that a drop in precipitation of about 20% might be critical for lake survival.

In principle, conventional lysimeters are suitable for the investigation of vertical water and solute fluxes. Lateral fluxes in water-saturated fen sites are characterized by heterogeneities and abnormities due to anisotropic layering. But due to lack of adequate monitoring techniques, these fluxes have been insufficiently analyzed. The newly developed large weighable fen lysimeter (LWFL) overcomes the limitations of conventional lysimetry and enables the measurement of vertical and horizontal transport processes in undisturbed large volume soil monoliths. The LWFL has a volume of 6 m³ (4 m length, 1 m width and 1.5 m depth) and was tested by filling the lysimeter with an undisturbed fen monolith. A special extraction procedure for the horizontal sliding of the lysimeter vessel through the natural fen was developed. In front of the vessel a converted cutting tool assisted in carving the soil monolith out of the peat, both vertically and horizontally. Inlet and outlet of the LWFL was constructed to allow the adjustment of a wide range of hydraulic gradients to depict natural occurring lateral transport processes. The LWFL including the measurement techniques was tested successfully for 3 years. On the basis of these tests, we conclude that complex physical and biogeochemical research problems involving lateral flows can be tackled now with multiphase observations and measurements at high spatial and temporal resolution, transdisciplinary data evaluation and numerical modelling approaches.