Great Lakes precipitation chemistry. Part 1. Lake Ontario Basin

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Proc., Conf. Great Lakes Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5478565

Shiomi, M T; Kuntz, K W

The chemical composition of bulk precipitation in the Lake Ontario basin has been studied to determine its potential contribution to the chemical budgets of the lake and to provide basic background data as a baseline for later comparisons. The results from seven sampling stations during the two-year period 1970-1971 are presented. The results suggest that bulk precipitation may be a significant source of nitrogen and phosphorus to the lake, with the nitrogen input estimated at 12 to 14% of the total from other sources and the phosphorus input from 5 to 14%. The bulk precipitation loadings of the major ions sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and sulphate to the lake were found to be less than 3% of estimated Niagara River loadings of the same parameters. Comparisons of lake surface loadings of heavy-metals by bulk precipitation in the Lake Ontario Basin with estimated Niagara River loadings have shown that bulk precipitation may be a significant source of lead and zinc to the lake. Bulk precipitation loadings were found to be from 15 to 36% and from 58 to 85% of the estimated Niagara River loadings for lead and zinc, respectively.

• OSTI ID: 5478565
• Journal Information: Proc., Conf. Great Lakes Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc., Conf. Great Lakes Res.; (United States) Vol. 16; ISSN PCGRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
AIR POLLUTION
AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOLOGY
ELEMENTS
GREAT LAKES
GREAT LAKES BASIN
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LAKE ONTARIO
LAKES
LEAD
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
METALS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
PHOSPHORUS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
RAIN
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
WATERSHEDS
ZINC