Thermally stratified acid water in late winter - a key factor inducing self-accelerating processes which increase acidification

Abstract

Ion separation of acid air pollutants out of snow causes-sudden, deep pH-drops in lakes and running waters at an early stage of snowmelting. These pH-drops have drastic effects on fish populations and are suggested to be the main cause of Sphagnum invasion and changes in the microflora already at an early stage of acidification, i.e. when summer pH-values are about 6. These effects in turn reduce the nutrient recycling and accelerate the acidification process.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the first international symposium on acid precipitation and the forest ecosystem

Citation

Hultberg, Hans. 1976. Thermally stratified acid water in late winter - a key factor inducing self-accelerating processes which increase acidification. In: Dochinger, L. S.; Seliga, T. A., eds. Proceedings of the first international symposium on acid precipitation and the forest ecosystem; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-23. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 503-517