This book looks at the sources and composition of the atmosphere and rainfall, with particular attention on acidifying components and those that affect ecosystems. It further widens the subject to look at trace metals. It includes papers on the impact of deposition on soils and forests and the recovery of the natural environment. Work on critical loads makes a contribution to understanding the degree to which deposition must be reduced to limit its impact.

This volume contains papers presented at a NATO Advanced Research Institute, sponsored by their Eco-Sciences Panel, on "The effects of acid precipitation on vegetation and soils," held at Toronto, Canada from May 22-26, 1978. The organizing expenses and greater part of the expenses of the speakers and chair~en were provided by N.A.T.O. The scientific programme was planned by T. C. Hutchinson together with an international planning committee of G. Abrahamsen (Norway), G. Likens (U.S.A.), F.E. Last (U.K.), C.O. Tamm (Sweden) and B. Ulrich (W. Germany). Many of the dimensions of the 'acid rain' problem are common to countries of northern Europe and North America. The developing awareness over the past ten years of the international nature of the acid rain phenomenon has lead to studies documenting damaging effects on susceptible freshwater bodies. Large areas of the Canadian Pre-Cambrian Shield, with its extension into the United States, and the granitic areas of southern Norwayand Sweden contain lakes which are in the process of acidification. The biological resources of these affected areas are of considerable national concern. However, while clearly damaging effects of acidification on freshwater systems have been well documented, the impact of acid precipitation on terrestrial systems has not been so well understood.