The influence of organic acidity on the acid-base chemistry of surface waters in Maine, USA
Kahl J, Norton S, MacRae R, Haines T, Davis R. 1989. The influence of organic acidity on the acid-base chemistry of surface waters in Maine, USA. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 46:221-233
'Results from surveys of low-ANC lakes (high elevation, and seepage lakes), and of surface waters in dystrophic, acidic bogs, indicate that acidic precipitation and organic acidity are each generally necessary, but not solely sufficient, for chronically acidic status in Maine lakes. Acidic, low DOC (ANC less than 0; DOC less than 5 mg L-1) lakes of all hydrologic types are acidic due largely to acidic deposition; high DOC (DOC greater than 30 mg L-1) acidic seepage lakes are acidic due largely to organic acidity, and high DOC drainage lakes are acidic due to a combination of both factors. No low DOC drainage lakes are known with pH less than about 5.0, suggesting that organic acidity is necessary to depress lake pH values to below 5 in Maine at current deposition loadings. The dominant anion of low DOC, acidic waters is sulfate. Acidic waters with intermediate concentrations of DOC (5 to 30 mg L-1), may be dominated by SO4 and/or organic acidity. Seepage-input lakes were the only group to include both organically-dominated (37% of the acidic lakes) and SO4- dominated members (63% of the acidic lakes). High DOC systems are typically low pH bogs, and are all organic acid-dominated.' A total of 225 lakes were sampled in Maine. Although these lakes are not listed, some of these included lakes on Mount Desert Island. /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/MAINE/
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Kahl, J.S.; Norton, S.A.; MacRae, R.K.; Haines, T.A.; Davis, R.B.
- Units
- ACAD
- Keywords
- Acid Neutralizing Capacity, Acid Rain, Cations, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), Lakes & Ponds, Maine, Marshes & Bogs, Mount Desert Island, pH, pH, SOx, Water Quality