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The influence of organic acidity on the acid-base chemistry of surface waters in Maine, USA

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Abstract

Results from surveys of low-ANC lakes (high elevation, and seepage lakes), and of surface waters in dystrophic, acidic bogs, indicate that acidic precipitation and organic acidity are each generally necessary, but not solely sufficient, for chronically acidic status in Maine lakes. Acidic, low DOC (ANC < 0; DOC < 5 mg L-1) lakes of all hydrologic types are acidic due largely to acidic deposition; high DOC (DOC > 30 mg L-1) acidic seepage lakes are acidic due largely to organic acidity, and high DOC drainage lakes are acidic due to a combination of both factors. No low DOC drainage lakes are known with pH less than about 5.0, suggesting that organic acidity is necessary to depress lake pH values to below 5 in Maine at current deposition loadings,The dominant anion of low DOC, acidic waters is sulfate. Acidic waters with intermediate concentrations of DOC (5 to 30 mg L-1), may be dominated by S04 and/or organic acidity. Seepage-input lakes were the only group to include both organically-dominated (37% of the acidic lakes) and S04-dominated members (63% of the acidic lakes). High DOC systems are typically low pH bogs, and are all organic acid-dominated.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    J. S. Kahl, S. A. Norton & R. K. MacRae

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

    J. S. Kahl

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, Maine, USA

    T. A. Haines

  4. Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, University of Maine, 04469, Orono, Maine, USA

    R. B. Davis

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  1. J. S. Kahl
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  2. S. A. Norton
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  3. R. K. MacRae
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  4. T. A. Haines
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  5. R. B. Davis
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Kahl, J.S., Norton, S.A., MacRae, R.K. et al. The influence of organic acidity on the acid-base chemistry of surface waters in Maine, USA. Water Air Soil Pollut 46, 221–233 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192859

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