Stream chemistry in the eastern United States. 1. Synoptic survey design, acid-base status, and regional patterns
- Utah State Univ., Logan (United States)
- Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (United States)
To assess the regional acid-base status of streams in the mid-Atlantic and southern US, spring base flow chemistry was surveyed in a probability sample of 500 stream reaches representing a population of 64,300 reaches (224,000 km). Approximately half of the streams had acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) {le} 200 {mu}eq L{sup {minus}1}. Acidic (ANC {le} 0) streams were located in the highlands of the Mid-Atlantic region (southern New York to southern Virginia, 2,330 km), in coastal lowlands of the Mid-Atlantic (2,600 km), and in Florida (462 km). Acidic streams were rare (less than 1%) in the highlands of the Southeast. Inorganic monomeric aluminum (Al{sub im}) 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 {mu}g L{sup {minus}1}, 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 supports a hypothesis that atmospheric sources and watershed retention control regional patterns in streamwater sulfate concentrations. Most stream watersheds retain the vast majority of the total nitrogen loading from wet deposition. The data suggest, however, that some deposition nitrogen may be reaching streams in the Northern Appalachians.
- OSTI ID:
- 5823592
- Journal Information:
- Water Resources Research; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (United States) Vol. 27:4; ISSN 0043-1397; ISSN WRERA
- 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
Stream chemistry in the eastern United States. 2. Current sources of acidity in acidic and low acid-neutralizing-capacity streams
Related Subjects
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMISTRY
COASTAL REGIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING
RAIN
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STREAMS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WASHOUT
WATER CHEMISTRY