The HUMEX Project: Experimental acidification of a catchment and its humic lake

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Environment International; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-4120(92)90021-U· OSTI ID:6827939

Gjessing, E T ^[1]

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1. Inst. for Water Research, Oslo (Norway)

Acid rain research during the late 1970s and the early 1980s concluded that acid precipitation seriously affected the environment. It was, however, realized that humic substances (HS) in the water have an effect on the response of acid rain, and that HS acts as a modifier on both the chemical composition and on the biological activity. The HUMEX Project is studing the impact of HS on the acidification and the effect acidification has on the biological properties of HS. This is done by artificial acidification of a whole catchment. In the fall of 1988 a dystrophic lake was divided in two halves by a plastic curtain from the middle of the natural outlet to the opposite side. During the following two years, through September 1990, the water chemistry of the two lake halves was monitored. A number of scientists from Europe and North America have been studying the organic matter and the biota in the water and in the catchment area prior to the artificial acidification, which started in October 1990. The results, after 18 months of treatment, with a combination of sulphuric acid and ammonium nitrate, show a change in the water chemistry. In the experimental lake, there is a small increase in the concentration of S and organic N and a small decrease in color and pH. A reduction of the anion deficit in the treated basin is suggested to be due to a protonization of the HS. There are also significant biological changes in the treated lake half. 22 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6827939
• Journal Information: Environment International; (United States), Journal Name: Environment International; (United States) Vol. 18:6; ISSN ENVIDV; ISSN 0160-4120
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HUMIC ACIDS
INFORMATION
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
RAIN
SULFUR
SURFACE WATERS