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Acidification of air and precipitation and its consequences on the natural environment

Abstract

Changes in the chemistry of the atmosphere were discussed using 15 years of data collected by a European sampling network, beginning in 1952. Sulfur content of air and precipitation were closely related to air pollution from cities and industry, as a result of increasing use of sulfurous fuels. A special study of the acidity of 600 lakes in western Scandinavia showed that between 1959 and 1967 pH values declined an average of 0.4 units. Acid precipitation will eventually acidify rivers. The change in pH will depend on the buffering capacity of the catchment area and other factors. Negative trends have already been noted. Acificiation threatens aquatic organisms as most cannot exist in water below pH 4.0. Certain valuable fish such as salmon are threatened at pH 5.5 and catches have begun to decline. Soils may also be affected if the supply of neutralizing substances declines. Decreased crop production and reduced forest growth rate may result. The balance of nature is disturbed by the present atmospheric pollution of sulfuric and other acids. (MDF)
Authors:
Publication Date:
Jan 01, 1968
Product Type:
Book
Reference Number:
EDB-85-048700
Resource Relation:
Related Information: Bulletin No. 1
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ACID RAIN; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; ACIDIFICATION; AIR POLLUTION; BIOLOGICAL STRESS; CROPS; FISHES; FORESTS; LAKES; LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; PH VALUE; PLANTS; PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING; PRODUCTIVITY; RIVERS; SULFUR; TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS; ANIMALS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS; ECOSYSTEMS; ELEMENTS; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; MASS TRANSFER; NONMETALS; POLLUTION; RAIN; SEPARATION PROCESSES; STREAMS; SURFACE WATERS; VERTEBRATES; 500200* - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 510200 - Environment, Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 520200 - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
OSTI ID:
6102744
Country of Origin:
Sweden
Language:
English
Submitting Site:
HEDB
Size:
Pages: 116
Announcement Date:
Jul 01, 1983

Citation Formats

Oden, S. Acidification of air and precipitation and its consequences on the natural environment. Sweden: N. p., 1968. Web.
Oden, S. Acidification of air and precipitation and its consequences on the natural environment. Sweden.
Oden, S. 1968. "Acidification of air and precipitation and its consequences on the natural environment." Sweden.
@misc{etde_6102744,
title = {Acidification of air and precipitation and its consequences on the natural environment}
author = {Oden, S}
abstractNote = {Changes in the chemistry of the atmosphere were discussed using 15 years of data collected by a European sampling network, beginning in 1952. Sulfur content of air and precipitation were closely related to air pollution from cities and industry, as a result of increasing use of sulfurous fuels. A special study of the acidity of 600 lakes in western Scandinavia showed that between 1959 and 1967 pH values declined an average of 0.4 units. Acid precipitation will eventually acidify rivers. The change in pH will depend on the buffering capacity of the catchment area and other factors. Negative trends have already been noted. Acificiation threatens aquatic organisms as most cannot exist in water below pH 4.0. Certain valuable fish such as salmon are threatened at pH 5.5 and catches have begun to decline. Soils may also be affected if the supply of neutralizing substances declines. Decreased crop production and reduced forest growth rate may result. The balance of nature is disturbed by the present atmospheric pollution of sulfuric and other acids. (MDF)}
place = {Sweden}
year = {1968}
month = {Jan}
}