Stream chemistry in the eastern United States. 1. Synoptic survey design, acid-base status, and regional patterns
To assess the regional acid-base status of streams in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, spring baseflow chemistry was surveyed in a probability sample of 500 stream reaches representing a population of 64,300 reaches. Approximately half of the streams had acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) < 200 microeq/L. Acidic streams were located in the highlands of the Mid-Atlantic Region, in coastal lowlands of the Mid-Atlantic, and in Florida. Acidic streams were rare in the highlands of the Southeast. Inorganic monomeric aluminum concentrations were highest in acidic streams of the Mid-Atlantic Highlands where over 70% of the acidic streams had Al(sub im) greater than 100 microg/L, a concentration above which deleterious biological effects have frequently been reported. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations were much higher in lowland coastal streams, compared with inland streams. The authors data support a hypothesis that atmospheric sources and retention control regional patterns in streamwater sulfate concentrations. Most stream watersheds apparently retain the vast majority of total nitrogen loading from wet deposition. The data suggest, however, that atmospheric nitrogen may be reaching streams in the Northern Appalachians. These results show that acidic surface waters are found outside the glaciated Northeastern portions of the U.S. and that watershed sulfate retention is not sufficient to prevent acidic conditions in some Mid-Atlantic Highlands streams.
- Research Organization:
- Utah State Univ., Logan, UT (United States). Utah Water Research Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 5230333
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-206987/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Stream chemistry in the eastern United States. 2. Current sources of acidity in acidic and low acid-neutralizing-capacity streams
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540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ACIDIFICATION
AIR POLLUTION
ALUMINIUM
CHEMISTRY
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION III
FEDERAL REGION IV
HYDROLOGY
METALS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SITE SURVEYS
STREAMS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WATERSHEDS