Abstract
Reported here are the first data that examine direct chemical interactions between acid precipitation and near-surface lake waters. Temporal snapshots of the dissolved phase chemical dynamics at several depths in the surface 0.5 m water column of an oligotrophic low-alkalinity lake are presented for a storm event which occurred on August 17, 1983. During precipitating periods pH decreases of up to 0.35 pH units were observed in surface waters. The good agreement between the time-depth profiles of temperature, excess H+, and excess SO4 2− strongly suggested that the major acidity component of the rain water (H2SO4) was primarily responsible for the decreased surface water pH.
As a result of intrusion of cooler rain water into warmer surface waters, suspended particulate matter apparently became trapped within layers of cooler water and was subsequently removed from near-surface waters by the sinking of these layers. Significant solubilization of Zn occurred within these layers, presumably representing release from particulate matter subjected to lowered solution pH. In contrast to Zn, significant decreases occurred in the concentrations of dissolved Al and Fe that may have resulted principally from formation of solid phases.
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Talbot, R.W., Elzerman, A.W. Effects of an acid precipitation event on the near-surface water chemistry of an oligotrophic lake. Water Air Soil Pollut 28, 249–264 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583491
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583491