What are Scientists Doing to Understand Acid Deposition? Ecological Society of America 02.01.01 Our understanding of atmospheric pollution and its effects on the environment has increased over the last decade and has provided scientists with fresh perspectives and policy makers with new approaches for dealing with the problem. However, ecologists are still trying to fully understand the long-term effects of acid deposition on ecosystems. This requires long-term studies that include an array of ecosystem types over decades rather than years. For instance, there is still much to learn about the impacts of acid deposition on soils, surface water chemistry and biology, forests, and ecological response and recovery. The role of nitrogen and its cycling through ecosystems is also a significant area of current research.    Long-term monitoring is a critical component of scientific research. This type of data contributes important information to scientists who study acid deposition. Chemical and biological monitoring enable researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of policies intended to reduce air pollutants as well as to test scientific models of ecosystem responses to acid deposition. Prepared by the Ecological Society of America  1707 H Street NW, Suite 400  Washington, DC 20006  (202) 833-8773    ©2001 The Aurora Collection, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Development by: Interactive Multimedia. Inc.