The aim of this research is to get insight in hydrological and biogeochemical cycles in forests of regions with high (Flanders) and low (Chile) atmospharic deposition. Attention will be given to water balances, modeling, chemical analysis of precipitation and run off water, litter decomposition and N and P transformation.

The first objective is to quantify nutrient pools and fluxes in evergreen and summergreen forests in regions with low (Chile) and high (Flanders) atmospheric pollution. The second objective is to modify existing models for hydrological and biogeochemical cycles in order to describe the current situation and second to predict the possible evolution in the functioning of the forests ecosystems in Chile under the influence of increasing anthropogenic disturbance. The third objective relates to the development of adequate methodologies to obtain nutrient pools that are relevant in terms of availability to biota and in terms of mobility within the ecosystem.