Rocky Mountain acidification study

Gibson, J H; Galloway, J N; Schofield, C; McFee, W; Johnson, R; McCarley, S; Dise, N; Herzog, D

Title: Rocky Mountain acidification study

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Abstract

The objectives of this report were to determine the sensitivity of watersheds characteristic of the Rocky Mountain Region and the relationship of watershed sensitivity to geology and soils; to evaluate the extent of current acidification and the potential for increasing acidification with increasing deposition of nitrate and sulfate; to evaluate the results of the preceding in terms of impacts on fish populations; and to develop recommendations for assessment of future trends in both changing water chemistry and impacts on fish populations. Areas selected for study included the Rocky Mountain National Ppark and Yellowstone National Park, exemplifying two different geologic types that are representative of a large portion of the Rocky Mountain region. Rocky Mountain National Park is primarily underlain by granite and Yellowstone National Park by volcanic materials. Sensitivity is primarily determined by bedrock geology and varies inversely with elevation. High-elevation lakes and streams in the central Rocky Mountain region are very sensitive to acidic deposition. With respect to fish populations there is currently no evidence of chronic acidification and thus no apparent impact on fisheries. However, the very low base cation concentration observed in the headwater drainages of Rocky Mountain National Park suggests extreme sensitivity to acidification. Waters inmore »« less

Authors:: Gibson, J H; Galloway, J N; Schofield, C; McFee, W; Johnson, R; McCarley, S; Dise, N; Herzog, D

Publication Date:: Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983

Research Org.:: Fish and Wildlife Service, Kearneysville, WV (USA). Eastern Energy and Land Use Team

OSTI Identifier:: 7193067

Report Number(s):: FWS/OBS-80/40.17
ON: TI84901174

Resource Type:: Technical Report

Resource Relation:: Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ACIDIFICATION; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; AMMONIA; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS; CALCIUM; CHLORIDES; MAGNESIUM; NITRATES; PHOSPHATES; POTASSIUM; ROCKY MOUNTAINS; WATERSHEDS; SODIUM; SULFATES; BIOTITE; ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; FISHES; GEOCHEMISTRY; GRANITES; NATURE RESERVES; PH VALUE; SOILS; ALKALI METALS; ALKALINE EARTH METALS; ANIMALS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; CHEMISTRY; CHLORINE COMPOUNDS; DATA; ECOSYSTEMS; ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES; ELEMENTS; HALIDES; HALOGEN COMPOUNDS; HYDRIDES; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; IGNEOUS ROCKS; INFORMATION; METALS; MICA; MINERALS; MOUNTAINS; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; NITROGEN HYDRIDES; NUMERICAL DATA; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; PLUTONIC ROCKS; RESOURCES; ROCKS; SILICATE MINERALS; SULFUR COMPOUNDS; VERTEBRATES; 510200* - Environment, Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 520200 - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)

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                    Gibson, J H, Galloway, J N, Schofield, C, McFee, W, Johnson, R, McCarley, S, Dise, N, and Herzog, D. Rocky Mountain acidification study.  United States: N. p., 1983. 
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                    Gibson, J H, Galloway, J N, Schofield, C, McFee, W, Johnson, R, McCarley, S, Dise, N, & Herzog, D. Rocky Mountain acidification study.  United States.

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                    Gibson, J H, Galloway, J N, Schofield, C, McFee, W, Johnson, R, McCarley, S, Dise, N, and Herzog, D. 1983.  
        "Rocky Mountain acidification study".  United States.

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@article{osti_7193067,

  title        = {Rocky Mountain acidification study},

  author       = {Gibson, J H and Galloway, J N and Schofield, C and McFee, W and Johnson, R and McCarley, S and Dise, N and Herzog, D},

  abstractNote = {The objectives of this report were to determine the sensitivity of watersheds characteristic of the Rocky Mountain Region and the relationship of watershed sensitivity to geology and soils; to evaluate the extent of current acidification and the potential for increasing acidification with increasing deposition of nitrate and sulfate; to evaluate the results of the preceding in terms of impacts on fish populations; and to develop recommendations for assessment of future trends in both changing water chemistry and impacts on fish populations. Areas selected for study included the Rocky Mountain National Ppark and Yellowstone National Park, exemplifying two different geologic types that are representative of a large portion of the Rocky Mountain region. Rocky Mountain National Park is primarily underlain by granite and Yellowstone National Park by volcanic materials. Sensitivity is primarily determined by bedrock geology and varies inversely with elevation. High-elevation lakes and streams in the central Rocky Mountain region are very sensitive to acidic deposition. With respect to fish populations there is currently no evidence of chronic acidification and thus no apparent impact on fisheries. However, the very low base cation concentration observed in the headwater drainages of Rocky Mountain National Park suggests extreme sensitivity to acidification. Waters in volcanic areas such as Yellowstone National Park are generally of high alkalinity and do not represent potentially sensitive habitats. 109 references, 31 figures, 24 tables.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7193067},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983},

  month        = {Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983}

}

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