Abstract
Chemical indicators suggest that slight, but discernable acidification occurs during smowmelt in some highly sensitive Cascade Mountain Lakes (mean alkalinity 20 ueq L−1). Although some SO4 in the lakes (mean 13 μeq L−1 ) comes from local geologic sources, several considerations suggest that some also comes from atmospheric deposition and anthropogenic sources. If sampling is stratified, the relatively low lake-to-lake and year-to-year variability in chemical constituents demonstrates that these highly sensitive lakes represent excellent indicators of acidification. The contention that precipitation pH >4.6 is needed for protection of sensitive lakes is supported. However, the slight but temporary acidification effect currently detectable during snowmelt, suggests that for adequate protection of these highly sensitive lakes, precipitation pH should be >4.7 to 4.8.
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