Short-term changes in the base neutralizing capacity of an acid Adirondack lake, New York

Driscoll, Charles T.; Schafran, Gary C.

doi:10.1038/310308a0

Cited by 81 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…6). Pulsed inputs of N03 are typically observed during snowmelt in "acid-sensitive" watersheds in the northeastern U.S. (45). Because these catchments have low pools of "readily-available" basic cations, NO3 inputs are generally accompanied by a stoichiometric increase in acidic cation (H+, Al"+) equivalence.…”

Section: Distribution and Sources Of Aluminummentioning

confidence: 99%

Aluminum in acidic surface waters: chemistry, transport, and effects.

Driscoll¹

1985

Environ Health Perspect

108

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Ecologically significant concentrations of Al have been reported in surface waters draining "acid-sensitive" watersheds that are receiving elevated inputs of acidic deposition. It has been hypothesized that mineral acids from atmospheric deposition have remobilized Al previously precipitated within the soil during soil development. This Al is then thought to be transported to adjacent surface waters.Dissolved mononuclear Al occurs as aquo Al, as well as OH-, F-, SO42-, and organic complexes. Although past investigations have often ignored non-hydroxide complexes of Al, it appears that organic and F complexes are the predominant forms of Al in dilute (low ionic strength) acidic surface waters. The concentration of inorganic forms of Al increases exponentially with decreases in solution pH. This response is similar to the theoretical pH dependent solubility of Al mineral phases. The concentration of organic forms of Al, however, is strongly correlated with variations in organic carbon concentration of surface waters rather than pH.Elevated concentrations of Al in dilute acidic waters are of interest because: Al is an important pH buffer; Al may influence the cycling of important elements like P, organic carbon, and trace metals; and Al is potentially toxic to aquatic organisms. An understanding of the aqueous speciation of Al is essential for an evaluation of these processes.

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Section: Distribution and Sources Of Aluminummentioning

confidence: 99%

Aluminum in acidic surface waters: chemistry, transport, and effects.

Driscoll¹

1985

Environ Health Perspect

108

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“…pH depressions that occur at spring snowmelt are largely associated with increased inputs of nitrate (Driscoll & Schafran 1984). Aluminum concentrations are elevated (5-15 umol 1-l ) in the lake and are well correlated to variations in pH.…”

Section: Study Site and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Porewater acid/base chemistry in near-shore regions of an acidic lake

Schafran

Driscoll

1990

Biogeochemistry

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Abstract. Sediment porewaters in the near-shore region (within 1 m of the shoreline) of an acidic lake (Dart's Lake) were monitored during the summer of 1983 to investigate whether spatial variations in porewater acid/base chemistry were significant in this region of the lake. Previous investigations of Dart's Lake porewaters have indicated that within deeper waters (> 2 m depth), sediment porewaters are elevated in alkalinity relative to overlying lake water. Within the near-shore region, porewaters both considerably more and less acidic than the lake water were observed. Both reduction of strong acid anions (SO:-, NO;) and the mobilization of base cations were significant mechanisms of alkalinity production in porewaters exhibiting reducing conditions. In sediments reflecting oxic conditions, porewaters were generally more acidic than the lakewater. Measurement of groundwater seepage into the lake at the near-shore sites indicated that oxic sites exhibited elevated inputs of groundwater when compared to sites where reducing conditions existed. The acidic porewaters associated with high groundwater flows suggests that groundwater inputs to the lake may be a source of acidity (not alkalinity) on a whole-lake basis.

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“…As noted by Seip (1980), nitrate is, in contrast, "taken up in the catchment, and only a small fraction ... appear(s) in runoff." As such, nitrate in lake water is generally less than 10% of sulfate on an equivalent basis (Wright, 1988), although nitrate can play an important role during snowmelt periods (Verry and Harris, 1988;Driscoll and Schafran, 1984). Long-term lake acidification models thus commonly use sulfate as the measure of acid input (Cosby et aI., 1985b;Henriksen and Brakke, 1988).…”

Section: Precipitation Aciditymentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact Models to Assess Regional Acidification

Kämäri¹

1990

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ForewordSensitive receptors such as soil and fresh bodies of water are at the end of a long chain of events in the process of regional acidification. This chain begins thousands of kilometers upwind at the emitters of acidifying pollutants. The topics covered in this book are important in the study of regional acidification for two reasons. First, it is important to assess the sensitivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to the deposition of acidifying pollutants. If the sensitivity of an ecosystem is known, then international control strategies can be developed to reduce deposition in the receptor areas of greatest importance. This is an important factor in designing the most effective strategies because of the very high costs of reducing emissions of acidifying pollutants.Second, it is important to be able to predict changes in ecosystems for decades into the future, whether it be an improvement owing to decreases in acidifying emissions or, alas, a further deterioration because control strategies are nonexistent or inadequate. In either event, it is important to be able to judge the results of our actions.Decision makers tend to be mistrustful of models unless they can judge their reliability. The application and testing of the models in Part III of this book cover, therefore, an important facet of model building.This book is an ideal companion to another book that is forthcoming from the Transboundary Air Pollution Project at IIASA: The RAINS Model of Acidification: Science and Strategies in Europe. The latter book is a description of the development and use of the Regional Acidification INformation and Simulation (RAINS) model, an integrated assessment model for developing and determining control strategies to reduce regional acidification in Europe. Much of the research described in this book forms part of the foundation of the RAINS model. These two books cover a great deal of the present knowledge about assessing and dealing with a very important environmental problem in Europeregional acidification. R. W. Shaw Leader Transboundary Air Pollution Project Introduction Acidification of the EnvironmentAcidification of the environment is, like most recent environmental problems, a consequence of change in the natural cycles of elements. Some chemical substances that during millions of years leaked from the biosphere are again being emitted to the atmosphere. Owing to these anthropogenic emissions, fluxes of acidifying compounds to the soils and waters have increased manyfold since preindustrial times.The whole problem of air pollution is transboundary in nature; its geographic dimensions are difficult to define. Pollution sources are scattered in many countries, the consequences extending far away. Acidifying sulfur and nitrogen oxides can persist in the air up to a few days, long enough to be transported hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from the place they were emitted. During this transit time, gaseous pollutants undergo a complicated chemical conversion into nitric and sulfuric acids, which ar...

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Short-term changes in the base neutralizing capacity of an acid Adirondack lake, New York

Cited by 81 publications

References 12 publications

Aluminum in acidic surface waters: chemistry, transport, and effects.

Aluminum in acidic surface waters: chemistry, transport, and effects.

Porewater acid/base chemistry in near-shore regions of an acidic lake

Impact Models to Assess Regional Acidification

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