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Aluminum chemistry in two pristine alpine lakes of the Central Cascades, Washington

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Abstract

A field investigation of the Al chemistry in two adjacent dilute alpine headwater lakes of the Central Washington Cascades was conducted. Quartz Lake is naturally acidic, pH ca. 5.3, due to local geologic sources of S. By contrast, Hi Lo Lake has a pH of ca. 6.0 decreasing to 5.4 during storm episodes in the spring and fall due to cation dilution and increased levels of organic acids. Total Al levels were as high as 156 μg L−1 in Hi Lo Lake and 127 μg L−1 in Quartz Lake during high flow spring and fall, whereas summer Al concentrations were 4 and 2 fold lower in Hi Lo and Quartz lakes, respectively. The peak Al concentrations were approximately 4 to 5 times greater than the median total Al levels for Washington Cascade lakes observed by the EPA. Variable flow paths and organic acids are hypothesized to control Al solubility, and the acid-base chemistry of Hi Lo Lake. However, at Quartz Lake sulfate weathering in the groundwater zone appeared most important for Al chemistry controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Washington, More Hall, 98195, Seattle, WA, USA

    K. B. Easthouse, D. E. Spyridakis & E. B. Welch

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  1. K. B. Easthouse
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  2. D. E. Spyridakis
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  3. E. B. Welch
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Easthouse, K.B., Spyridakis, D.E. & Welch, E.B. Aluminum chemistry in two pristine alpine lakes of the Central Cascades, Washington. Water Air Soil Pollut 71, 377–390 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00480556

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