Seasonal mass balance of major ions in three small watersheds in a maritime environment

Abstract

Three watersheds (16.4, 544, and 83 ha) at distances of 0.5, 20, and 40 km from the Atlantic coast have been monitored for major ion chemistry of precipitation input and streamflow from May 1977 to November 1978. More than 200 precipitation and stramflow samples were analyzed for Na, K, Ca, Mg, chloride and sulphate, as well as pH, conductivity, alkalinity, and compared to similar studies at Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire, U.S.A., and Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia.

Major ion chemistry reflects proximity to Atlantic and Bay of Fundy coastal sources of marine aerosols. Evidence is presented implying biological reduction of H ⁺ and S04 to H₂S during summer months for two consecutive growing seasons.

Weighted mean annual pH values of precipitation for the three watersheds in Nova Scotia range from 4.11 to 4.63. More than 50% of the H ⁺ in precipitation is retained in the watersheds (with the exception of the ombrotrophic Fink Cove ecosystem), principally at the expense of basic cations being leached from the watersheds.

Acidic deposition of Nova Scotian precipitation is predominantly as sulphuric acid, in contrast to ammonium sulphate, characteristic of continental precipitation.