Impact Of Acid Precipitation Research Articles

The impact of acidic precipitation and eutrophication on the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (L.) in Southern Norway

In Southern Norway, there are strong indications that acidic precipitation is the main reason for the extinction of 94% of all known populations (n = 47) of the vulnerable pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (L). An example is the famous pearl mussel river, the River Audna, where the death of both young and old mussels took place in the period 1930 - 50. When the pH is in the range 5.0 - 5.5 or lower for prolonged periods of time, the mussel can no longer tolerate the acidity. The only three known localities remaining in this part of the country, with ageing populations of the pearl mussel, are all lowland streams that are only very little acidified. The main threat there is eutrophication.

Response of weathering carbon sink effect to anthropogenic sulfuric acid in different lithological catchments: A case study from Southwest China

Accurately quantifying the carbon sink effect resulting from chemical weathering caused by anthropogenic H2SO4 is imperative to improve the assessment of the global carbon budget. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of precise understanding regarding the impact of anthropogenic H2SO4 on CO2 consumption during chemical weathering. Here, spring water samples were collected monthly from three catchments with distinct bedrock lithologies affected by severe acid precipitation in Southwest China for analyses of hydrogeochemistry and δ13CDIC to quantitatively estimate the effect of anthropogenic H2SO4 on the weathering carbon sink budget. The results show that carbonates contribute 97.4 %, 95.0 % and 88.8 % of the total cationic load using a straightforward method in the Beidiping carbonate catchment, as well as in the Shegengyan and Bianyan silicate catchments, respectively. The [Ca2++Mg2+]/[HCO3−] (0.98–1.19) and [Ca2++Mg2+]/[HCO3−+SO42−] (approximately 1) equivalent ratios, and δ13CDIC values (−16.8 to −8.0 ‰) of the samples suggest that besides H2CO3, H2SO4 is involved in carbonate weathering. The stoichiometry of the chemical compositions of spring water indicates that the presence of H2SO4 enhances carbonate weathering rates by 14.8 %, 8.1 % and 7.5 % while decreasing the CO2 consumption by 8.2 %, 4.3 % and 4.0 % in Beidiping, Shegengyan and Bianyan, respectively. Thus the reduced proportion of karst carbon sink in the carbonate catchment is approximately 2 times that in the silicate catchment, suggesting that carbonate weathering in the karst catchment is more sensitive to acid precipitation. The impact of acid precipitation on rock weathering in the silicate catchment is constrained by the soil buffering effect. Our study highlights the important role of anthropogenic H2SO4 in carbonate weathering, which should be critically evaluated in regional and global carbon cycles in future studies.

Relating Tree Ring Chemistry of Pinus densiflora to Precipitation Acidity in an Industrial Area of South Korea

To test the possible use of tree ring chemical properties as proxies for precipitation acidity ([H+]), we investigated the relationships between tree ring chemistry (δ13C, δ15N, Ca-to-Al ratio, and N concentration) of Pinus densiflora and precipitation [H+] between 1992 and 2005 in an industrial area in the southwest region of South Korea. Statistical analyses showed that all tree ring chemistry parameters were significantly correlated with precipitation [H+]. Tree ring δ13C was negatively correlated with precipitation acidity (r = −0.67, P < 0.01), reflecting the photosynthetic fixation of 13C-depleted CO2 from fossil fuel combustion that would be the primary source of precipitation acidity. A positive correlation of N concentration (r = 0.89, P < 0.001) and a negative correlation of δ15N (r = −0.63, P < 0.05) in tree rings with precipitation acidity most likely reflected the influence of 15N-depleted N compounds deposited via precipitation. The Ca-to-Al ratio was negatively (r = −0.58, P < 0.05) correlated with precipitation acidity, indicating that soil acidification caused the loss of Ca from the soil and solubilization of Al resulting from acid precipitation. Such relationships suggest that δ13C, δ15N, N concentration, and Ca-to-Al ratio in tree rings can be reliably used to evaluate the impact of acid precipitation on the studied P. densiflora stands.

Assessment of Neutralization Ability of Soil for Acidic Precipitation

Acidic precipitation is a worldwide problem. Acids result from human activities, such as coal burning and the use of internal combustion engines. Though surface soils work to neutralize acidic precipitation and maintain land water at neutral levels, the environmental impact of acidic precipitation on the neutralization ability of soil has not been clarified. In this paper, the effects of acidic precipitation on the neutralization ability of the soil were experimentally examined in batch and column reactors with acidic solutions as the artificial acidic precipitation. Soil was collected in the Hokuriku area, located in the central part on the Japan-Sea side of Japan.On that coastal area, winter precipitation contains not only high amounts of acidic components, but also high concentrations of calcium and sodium ions derived from the sea. It was found from experimental results that calcium ions disturbed the neutralization ability of soil, but sodium ions did not. In this paper, the neutralization ability of soil was also assessed by a method based on the chemical equilibrium analysis of the relationship between the concentration of metal ions and pH values in the aqueous phase. The assessment suggested that calcium ions in precipitation prolonged the neutralization ability of soil.Carbon dioxide residing in small spaces in the soil was confirmed to enhance an increase in pH during the neutralization reaction. The existence of carbon dioxide was also found to promote the neutralization ability of soil. To elucidate the life-time neutralization ability of soil in respect of acidic precipitation, the effect of carbon dioxide residing in small spaces in soil cannot be neglected. This indicated that to achieve the aims of the present study, analyses of the solid, liquid and gas phases were required.

Chrysophyte cysts as paleolimnological indicators of environmental change due to cottage development and acidic deposition in the Muskoka-Haliburton region, Ontario, Canada

Chrysophyte cysts preserved in recent and pre-industrial lake sediment samples from 54 Muskoka-Haliburton (Ontario) lakes were used in a paleolimnological study to determine the impact of acidic precipitation and cottage development on water quality. A total of 246 cyst morphotypes were identified. Ecological preferences of cyst morphotypes were determined using multivariate statistical analysis, cluster analysis, and species-environment correlations. Recent cyst assemblages were related to water chemistry and lake morphometric variables using Redundancy Analysis (RDA). The distribution of morphotypes was related to a gradient of acid neutralising capacity (ANC), expressed through the association of variables related to buffering (i.e. longitude, watershed area, and ionic concentration) with the first axis (λ1 = 0.29). Cyst assemblages were also defined, to a lesser extent (λ2 = 0.06), by a trophic status gradient, created through the combination of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), volume-weighted cottage density, and lake depth variables. The identification of lakewater pH and trophic status as important determinants of cyst assemblage structure allowed for the reconstruction of acidification and eutrophication related water chemistry changes using fossil cyst assemblages. The reconstruction of pre-industrial (pre-1850) water quality conditions with fossil cyst assemblages indicated that pH significantly decreased in 24.1% of the study lakes and increased in 16.7% of the lakes. Increases in pH in more alkaline drainage basins are attributed to alkalinity generation processes induced by acidic precipitation as has been shown in other studies. Total phosphorus (TP) concentrations significantly declined in 12.9% of the lakes and increased in 16.6% of lakes. Increases in [TP] were linked to cottage development. Decreases in trophic status may be due to landuse changes, the result of the acidification occurring in the area, or warmer and drier climates. A comparison of chrysophyte cyst and diatom water quality inferences show similar trends in pH changes. There is a good agreement between diatom and chrysophyte bioindicators with respect to [TP] changes in oligotrophic lakes (< 10 μg/L); however, diatom inferences suggest that lakes with current [TP] values greater than 10 μg/L have decreased in trophic status over time, while chrysophyte reconstructions suggest that these same lakes have become more productive systems.

Impact of acid precipitation on nitrogen and CO 2 fixation, and biomass accumulation by soybean

Impact of acid precipitation on nitrogen and CO 2 fixation, and biomass accumulation by soybean

Interference of aluminum and pH on the Na-influx in an aquatic insect Corixa punctata (Illig.).

Some investigations concerning the impact of acid precipitation on aquatic biota, assess possible toxic effects of aluminium in relation to low pH. But those studies mainly refer to the survival of fishes under these stress conditions. Experiments with some aquatic invertebrates (crustaceans and insect larvae) on mortality under pH and aluminium-stress indicated that aluminium should be the key additional toxic factor in acid water. In this paper, data are presented on the influence of different aluminium-concentrations in relation with a low pH-value, on the Na-influx and haemolymph Na-concentration in the adult waterbug Corixa punctata (Illig.).

Effects of Acid Rain on Water Supplies in the Northeast

Results of the first study concerning the impact of acid precipitation on drinking water are reported in terms of health effects in humans as measured by US Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant levels. The study focused on sampling surface water and groundwater supplies in the New England states but also included other sites in the Northeast and the Appalachians. No adverse effects on human health were demonstrated, although the highly corrosive nature of New England waters may be at least partly attributable to acidic deposition in poorly buffered watersheds and aquifers.

Diatoms as indicators of the rate of lake acidification

Autecological studies of diatoms as pH indicators have opened the way to estimating a lake's past pH on the basis of its diatom species composition and relative abundance. Estimating the rate of lake acidification from its sediment subfossil diatoms is possible when these subfossils can be identified and accurately enumerated in the surface sediments of 20 to 30 lakes. Once this is done the diatoms down the length of the sediment core of one or more of these lakes can be enumerated and the pH inferred at each depth. This technique holds considerable promise in assessing the temporal impact of acid precipitation for acid-sensitive lakes. When loga values were regressed against observed pH for 28 lakes located north of Lake Superior, a significant (P < 0.01) correlation (r = 0.89) resulted. Downcore diatom stratigraphy for one of these lakes indicated that its pH had dropped from 6.2 to 5.2 over the last 20 yr while a second lake had dropped from a pH of 7.1 to 5.2 over the last 30 yr.

Effects of acid precipitation on inland waters

Atmospheric transport of sulphur compounds and other acidifying components has led to extensive regional acidification of water bodies in sensitive areas, both in Europe and North America. The regions affected by acidification are increasing in area at present. Lakes in these areas are now characterized by low pH, high contents of sulphate and high under impact of acid precipitation. Acidification of inland waters has had major effects on life in rivers and lakes. Investigations have shown that all types of organisms in the freshwater ecosystem are affected by acidification, ecosystem structures are simplified, and the lakes probably become poorer in nutrients. A prominent feature of regional water acidification is the extensive loss of fish populations, caused primarily by reproductive failure. Physiological stress and fish kills are caused by toxic combinations of water acidity and high aluminium content.

Impact of Acid Precipitation on Forest and Freshwater Ecosystems in Norway.

Impact of Acid Precipitation on Forest and Freshwater Ecosystems in Norway.

Book Reviews

Forty‐fifth Annual Report of the Freshwater Biological Association. 1977. Impact of Acid Precipitation on Forest and Freshwater Ecosystems in Norway. Braekke, F.H. (Ed.) (1976). Elliott, J. M. (1977). Some Methods for the Statistical Analysis of Samples of Benthic Invertebrates.

Impact of acid precipitation on forest and freshwater ecosystems in Norway

Impact of acid precipitation on forest and freshwater ecosystems in Norway

Impact of acid precipitation on freshwater ecosystems in Norway

Extensive studies of precipitation chemistry during the last 20 yr have clearly shown that highly polluted precipitation falls over large areas of Scandinavia, and that this pollution is increasing in severity and geographical extent. Precipitation in southern Norway, Sweden, and Finland contains large amounts of H+, SO=4, and NO−3 ions, along with heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb, that originate as air pollutants in the highly industrialized areas of Great Britain and central Europe and are transported over long distances to Scandinavia, where they are deposited in precipitation and dry-fallout.