Biogeochemistry of three Appalachian forest sites in relation to stream acidification. Final report

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5735190

DeWalle, D R; Sharpe, W E

Wet fallout, bulk precipitation, throughfall and soil leachate chemistry were studied from November, 1983 to November, 1984 at three Appalachian deciduous forest sites to determine the cause of differences in stream acidification. At one site on Fork Mtn. in northcentral West Virginia, where the stream exhibits little transient acidification during stormflows, soil leachate was found to be significantly less acidic and higher in dissolved calcium and magnesium. In contrast, on Peavine Hill in southwest Pennsylvania and Sand Mtn. in central Pennsylvania, where streams exhibit transient stormflow acidification, acidic soil leachate with high concentrations of dissolved manganese and aluminum were found. Thus, differences in stream acidification among sites seem to be in part caused by varying chemistry of soil water yielded to streams or groundwater reserves during storm periods. Differences in soil leachate chemistry among sites were attributed to higher atmospheric deposition of H(+) at the acid stream sites and higher weathering rates at the Fork Mtn. site of the meager amounts of calcium and magnesium compounds found in sandstone and shale parent materials.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Inst. for Research on Land and Water Resources
• OSTI ID: 5735190
• Report Number(s): PB-86-151685/XAB; LW-8510
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CALCIUM
CHEMISTRY
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION III
FORESTS
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROLOGY
LEACHATES
MAGNESIUM
METALS
MIXTURES
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
RAIN
SOILS
SOLUTIONS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER POLLUTION
WEST VIRGINIA