Analysis of the mineral acid-base components of acid-neutralizing capacity in Adirondack lakes

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Water Resources Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92WR02327· OSTI ID:6141943

Munson, R K; Gherini, S A ^[1]

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1. Tetra Tech, Inc., Hadley, MA (United States)

Much of the debate in the United States concerning the effects of acidic deposition on surface water chemistry and fish communities has focused on the Adirondack region of New York State. To better characterize the chemical and biological status of the Adirondack lakes, the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation (ALSC) was formed as a cooperative effort of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Empire State Electric Energy Research Corporation. Between 1984 and 1987 the ALSC surveyed 1,469 lakes in the Adirondack ecological zone. Lakes were selected for sampling to provide a nonbiased, representative sample of lakes in the region based on size and elevation. Water samples were collected for chemical analysis twice during the study, once during spring or fall, and once during midsummer. Each water sample was analyzed for 29 physical and chemical parameters including pH, acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC), major cations and anions plus others. Results indicated that mineral acids and bases influenced the pH of ALSC waters largely through their effects on ANC. The influence becomes particularly significant as ANC values approach zero. Differences in ANC values among the surveyed waters resulted from varying concentrations of base cations rather than acid anions. Dissolved iron and manganese ephemerally incremented the ANC of lake bottom waters. Silica concentrations were considered an indication of the minimum amount of primary mineral weathering occurring within a basin. It appears that ion exchange is currently a major source of calcium and magnesium in the ALSC surface waters. Given the fact that cation exchange is a finite source of bases, this observation is important in terms of future acidification.

• OSTI ID: 6141943
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (United States) Vol. 29:4; ISSN WRERAQ; ISSN 0043-1397
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY
ACIDIFICATION
ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIONS
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
BASES
CALCIUM
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ION EXCHANGE
IONS
IRON
LAKES
MAGNESIUM
MANGANESE
METALS
MOUNTAINS
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WATER CHEMISTRY
WEATHERING