Total organic carbon in streamwater from four long-term monitored catchments in Norway

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Environment International; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-4120(94)90304-2· OSTI ID:6448476

Lydersen, E; Henriksen, A ^[1]

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1. Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo (Norway)

Flux, concentration, and net charge of total organic carbon (TOC) have been related to different physico-chemical parameters present in air/precipitation and streamwater at four long-term monitored catchments in Norway, during the period 1986-1992. The catchments vary a lot with respect to annual water input, acid rain, and the streamwater concentration of TOC. Thus, relationships between concentration/NC of TOC and chemical compounds in precipitation and streamwater were often catchment-specific. However, seasonal climatic changes, like air temperature and hydrology, were found to be important for the concentration variations of TOC. Organic matter has an important role in weathering reactions in the catchment. The correlation between concentration of total aluminum (RAL) and SO[sub 4][sup *] was far more significant (r=0.93) compared with the corresponding correlations between RAL and TOC (r=0.40). The NC of TOC was found to be most affected by compounds in precipitation, primarily the inputs of sea salts. In the most acidified areas, the influence from strong acid inputs also affects the NC of TOC, but less significantly. Variations in sea salt inputs (primarily NaCl) are more important for the temporary variation in NC of TOC compared with H[sup +] ions at these sites. At a certain TOC level, the weak organic acids may affect the streamwater pH. A comparison between measured and calculated concentrations of organic Al indicated that the dissociation constants (pK-values) of the organic acids present at Birkenes must be higher and/or the Al-complexing constants lower compared with the constants given by the programme. 55 refs., 10 figs., 8 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6448476
• Journal Information: Environment International; (United States), Vol. 20:6; ISSN 0160-4120
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
CARBON
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ORGANIC MATTER
STREAMS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
NORWAY
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
EUROPE
MATTER
NONMETALS
RAIN
SCANDINAVIA
SURFACE WATERS
WESTERN EUROPE
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)