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Buffering of pH Depressions by Sediments in Streams and Lakes

  • Chapter
Acidic Precipitation

Part of the book series: Advances in Environmental Science ((2311,volume 4))

Abstract

We have evaluated buffering of pH depressions in streams by sediments by examination of water chemistry data from experimental acidifications of small streams that have low acid-neutralizing capacity, low pH, and a variable history of impact from acidic precipitation. Neutralization of acidity is dominated by the release of Ca and Al from stream sediments and vegetation and by dissolution of aluminum hydroxide solids. Aluminum is released from vegetation, primarily below pH 5, by cation exchange and possibly dissolution of a poorly crystallized or amorphous Al(OH)3 phase. This cation exchange reservoir is easily depleted. Inorganic substrates release Al by dissolution of an Al(OH)3 phase. The reservoir for Al(OH)3 is large in streams with a pH between 5 and 6.

Lake sediments neutralize acidity in overlying lake water primarily by (1) release of Ca by desorption (cation exchange), and (2) S04 reduction and net storage of S in the sediment. Nitrate reduction may also be significant. Paleolim- nological assessment of the effectiveness of these two processes for recently acidified lakes indicates that the total increase in sediment alkalinity generation is in the range of 0 to 5 μeqL−1 lake water for typical drainage lakes. The importance of sediment-generated alkalinity increases as the ratio of lake area: watershed area increases. Batch studies and microcosm studies of alkalinity generation greatly overestimate the role of these two processes, especially base cation release from sediments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Stephen A. Norton

  2. Department of Environmental Protection, Augusta, ME, 04333, USA

    Jeffrey S. Kahl

  3. Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Box 333, 0314, Oslo, Norway

    Arne Henriksen & Richard F. Wright

Authors
  1. Stephen A. Norton
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  2. Jeffrey S. Kahl
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  3. Arne Henriksen
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  4. Richard F. Wright
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, ME, USA

    S. A. Norton

  2. Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 37831, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    S. E. Lindberg

  3. Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, 92521, Riverside, CA, USA

    A. L. Page

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Norton, S.A., Kahl, J.S., Henriksen, A., Wright, R.F. (1990). Buffering of pH Depressions by Sediments in Streams and Lakes. In: Norton, S.A., Lindberg, S.E., Page, A.L. (eds) Acidic Precipitation. Advances in Environmental Science, vol 4. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4456-1_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4456-1_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8782-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4456-1

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