Possible importance of forest soil processes in defining surface water pH depressions
It has been hypothesized that during the winter, acidic deposition from the atmosphere is collected by the snowpack and released during spring runoff periods and during the fall, heavy storms cause flushing events that result in acidic materials on the soil surface (derived from dry atmospheric deposition) being carried to surface waters. An assessment of natural biogeochemical processes clearly reveals that H/sup +/ ions can be produced in temperate forest ecosystems. The potential also exists for these H/sup +/ ions to be transported by soil water flow to surface waters where their input may significantly influence the H/sup +/ ion concentration, particularly during storm or snowmelt events. Research data evaluated in this paper suggest that the observed increase in H/sup +/ ion concentration in some forest watershed surface waters during storm events and snowmelt runoff may be more a function of key climatic and biogeochemical processes rather than precipitation chemistry. Given the fact that natural processes do acidify soils and that these processes appear to contribute to the acidity and aluminum concentrations observed in many surface waters, it is important to determine the relative contribution of the anthropogenic sources of acidity compared to the acidity generated through natural processes.
- Research Organization:
- A.S.L. and Associates, Helena, MT
- OSTI ID:
- 5025701
- Journal Information:
- J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 35:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HYDROGEN IONS 1 PLUS
NATURAL OCCURRENCE
POLLUTION SOURCES
SOILS
ACIDIFICATION
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
SURFACE WATERS
ALUMINIUM
FORESTS
LEACHING
RUNOFF
SOIL CHEMISTRY
STORMS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
DISASTERS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROGEN IONS
IONS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)