Relationships between acid deposition, watershed characteristics, and stream chemistry in Maryland's coastal plain. Final report. Volume 1. Text. Report for May 1984-June 1985

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5117275

Campbell, S; Bartoshesky, J; Heimbuch, D; Janicki, J; Petrimoulx, H

Precipitation and stream-water chemistry data were collected from three watersheds in the Coastal Plain region of Maryland during the period May 1984 through June 1985 in an attempt to determine the potential effects of acidic deposition on the chemistry of these streams. The study streams included Lyons Creek, Morgan Creek, and Granny Finley Branch; these streams were chosen based on their differential responses to storm events observed in a survey of Coastal Plain streams in the spring of 1983. Lyons Creek typically exhibited lower pH, acid-neutralizing capacity, and concentrations of base cations than observed in the other streams. Sulfate mass balances suggest that the soils in the Lyons Creek watershed also have less affinity for sulfur retention than do soils of the other watersheds. Acidic pulses were observed in all three streams during the spring months; however, the magnitude of these pulses was less than that observed in 1983. Modeling of the relationships between precipitation chemistry, watershed interactions, and stream chemistry suggests that precipitation acidity can influence stream-water acidity, depending upon hydrological conditions and availabiility of acid-neutralizing materials in the watersheds.

• Research Organization: Versar, Inc., Columbia, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5117275
• Report Number(s): PB-88-154661/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
COASTAL REGIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
FEDERAL REGION III
MARYLAND
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
PROGRESS REPORT
RAIN
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION
WATERSHEDS