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Chemical composition of softwater Florida lakes and their sensitivity to acid precipitation

Journal Article · · Water Resour. Bull.; (United States)
Based on alkalinity data for 596 lakes, 31 percent of Florida's 7300 lakes have < 100 ..mu..eq/L alkalinity and are sensitive to acid deposition. More than two-thirds of the lakes in 12 northern Florida counties fit this criterion. Increasing aluminum and decreasing nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations were observed with decreasing pH in a survey of 20 softwater lakes. Maximum measured aluminum values (100-150 ..mu..g/L) are below levels associated with fish toxicity. Factor analysis showed that lake chemistry was related to three principal factors, representing three major processes: watershed weathering, acidification, and nutrient inputs. An acidification index defined as the difference between excess SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ and excess (Ca/sup 2 +/ + Mg/sup 2 +/) accounted for 74 percent of the variance in lake pH. Comparison of historical (late 1950s) and present data for pH, alkalinity, and excess SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ indicated loss of alkalinity (> 25 ..mu..eq/L) and increases in excess SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ (16-34 ..mu..eq/L) in several softwater lakes.
Research Organization:
Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc., Gainesville, FL
OSTI ID:
6673105
Journal Information:
Water Resour. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resour. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 20:1; ISSN WARBA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English