Atmospheric deposition and water chemistry of lakes in Darwin Reserve, northwest Russia

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:462560

Komov, V T; Stepanova, I K; Lazareva, V I ^[1]

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1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok (Russian Federation). Inst. of Biology of Inland Waters

Water chemistry of 20 pristine lakes in Darwin National Reserve, Northwest Russia were studied over 6 years. Primary source of pollution is atmospheric deposition of sulfate. Water pH among lakes ranged from 4.2 to 6.8 (winter), and water color from 20 to 500 Hazan units. Ionic compounds were derived primarily from atmospheric input and its transformation through local catchments. Seepage lakes in small sphagnum (mostly) catchments displayed water chemistry closely associated with atmospheric inputs: high sulfate and low cation concentrations, and consequently, low pH. In contrast, drainage lakes of primarily forested watersheds were characterized as brown colored with relatively high levels of calcium and magnesium, and displayed less influence by sulfate deposition. Such lake types have water pH of 6.0--7.0. Total nitrogen content was correlated to water pH, whereas total phosphorus was similar among lakes except for lakes with significant groundwater inflow. Seasonal fluctuations in chemical properties were more pronounced in neutral lakes than in acidic lakes. Average annual sulfate concentrations decreased over the last six years, with a corresponding but nonsignificant increase in Ca and Mg. No temporal changes in nutrients were evident. The high diversity and proximity of lakes in this local provide the opportunity to monitor the fate of atmospheric pollution and its affect on lake water chemistry.

• OSTI ID: 462560
• Report Number(s): CONF-961149--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACIDIFICATION
AIR POLLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
LAKES
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SULFATES
WATER POLLUTION