Comment on comment on ''acid precipitation in historical perspective and effects of acid precipitation''

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00126a013· OSTI ID:5229854

Henriksen, A; Richter, D D

The author criticizes the fact that some soil scientists have difficulties in accepting that lakes and stream waters have become acid due to acid rain, because the natural production of acidity in ecosystems is large compared to the contribution from acid rain. He points out that Richter concludes that many of the reported changes, where real, may well result from natural processes with relatively minor contributions from acid precipitation. The author also disagrees with Krug and Frink who recently suggested that SO/sub 4/ from acid rain is exchanged with organic anions originally present in the water, leaving pH essentially unchanged. The author rebuts Henriksen who he says appears to have misunderstood the intent of the original correspondence, which was not to document evidence but rather to assert two generalities; (1) adverse effects of acid deposition on ecosystems are commonly overstated, and (2) the biogeochemistry of ecosystems is easily oversimplified, and natural sources of acidity are often ignored.

• Research Organization: Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5229854
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 18:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
LAKES
ACIDIFICATION
STREAMS
ANIONS
ION EXCHANGE
PH VALUE
POLLUTION SOURCES
SULFATES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
IONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RAIN
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)