Long‐term rates of acidification of UK upland acidic soils

Abstract
The approximate time‐scales for serious lowering of the base status of acidic upland soils in northeast Scotland have been based on assessments of geochemical weathering rates in two upland catchments. Periods of 1100 and 12000 years are obtained for soils evolved primarily from granite and quartz‐biotite‐norite respectively. Factors regulating the rate of removal of base cations in drainage water are discussed, to elucidate those which significantly influence long‐term rates of soil acidification. The relationship between base cation leaching and river water acidity is briefly considered.