Report
Acidification of aquatic and terrestrial systems: Chemical weathering
EPA/600/D-84/191, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1984
Abstract
The authors have shown that aggrading biomass and humus and oxidation reactions mass and humus and oxidation reactions serve to add protons to aqueous systems, while chemical weathering, ion exchange, and reduction reactions serve to consume protons (add ANC to the water). Atmospheric acid deposition creates an additional input of hydrogen and sulfate ions (H2SO4) to the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem which is partly neutralized by increased weathering and cation export. It is balanced by aluminum dissolution and causes the negative effects in aquatic ecosystems on fish and possibly on forests. The lakes which have been acidified by acid precipitation are those with extremely sensitive hydrologic settings and with watersheds lacking carbonate minerals. They respond relatively rapidly to changes in acid loading (on the order of a few hydraulic detention times). The soils of these watersheds have not been greatly acidified by acid precipitation nor has podzolization occurred due to anthropogenic acid deposition.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Acidification of aquatic and terrestrial systems: Chemical weathering
- Creators
- J L SchnoorW Stumm
- Resource Type
- Report
- Publisher
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Washington, D.C., USA
- Series
- EPA/600/D-84/191
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 1984
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9983997974502771
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