Comparison of excess sulfate yields and median pH values of rivers in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, 1971?1973 and 1982?1984

Abstract

Using the best available data, a comparison of the excess sulfate yields and median pH values of rivers in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland for the two periods 1971–1973 and 1982–1984 showed that the excess sulfate yields were significantly lower in the latter period, and the median pH values of the non-organically-dominated rivers were higher. The area] pattern of excess sulfate yields of rivers on the island of Newfoundland is in accord with the known pattern of precipitation across the island. Comparison of data for the Mersey River in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, with measured wet deposition of excess sulfate showed that the river yields of excess sulfate are higher than the wet deposition by amounts that are likely due to dry deposition.