Major ion chemistry and sensitivity to acid precipitation of Sierra Nevada lakes

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984 · Water Resour. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/WR021i001p00027· OSTI ID:5555199

Melack, J M; Stoddard, J L; Ochs, C A

Most alpine and subalpine lakes of the Sierra Nevada (California) are very dilute, weakly buffered calcium bicarbonate waters. Seventy-three lakes selected to lie in basins representative of Sierran bedrocks were sampled in the summers of 1981 and 1982 and have a median alkalinity of 50 ..mu..eq 1/sup -1/ (range 5-1137) and a pH of 7 (range 5.7-9.4). The alkalinity of Sierran lakes cannot be predicted from altitude, basin area, or lake area. The concentrations of sulfate, calcium, or alkalinity in lake waters are positively correlated with the percent areal coverage of volcanic or calcareous rocks in the basins. The lakes are not acidified but are extremely sensitive to increases in acidity of atmospheric precipitation.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Santa Barbara
• OSTI ID: 5555199
• Journal Information: Water Resour. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resour. Res.; (United States) Vol. 21:1; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ACID RAIN
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BUFFERS
CALCIUM
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CORRELATIONS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
LAKES
METALS
MOUNTAINS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
RAIN
SENSITIVITY
SIERRA NEVADA COLORADO
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER CHEMISTRY