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CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Thesis
Atmospheric loading of nutrients and acidity to Liberty Lake
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
08/1985
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007350
Abstract
Bulk and wet-only precipitation samples were analyzed for phosphorus and nitrogen species from July 1981 to June 1982 at Liberty Lake, Washington. Both rainfall and dry fallout were important deposition mechanisms for phosphorus (P), while rainfall was predominant for nitrogen (N). Annual volume-weighted mean concentrations exhibited the sequence particulate P>soluble reactive P>dissolved organic P and total organic N>ammonium>nitrate for bulk and wet-only samples. Bulk precipitation loadings for phosphorus and nitrogen (0.028 gP/m2/yr and 0.24 gN/m2/yr) presented no danger as a sole source relative to lake eutrophication, but were significant compared to other nutrient sources. The bulk precipitation input directly to the lake surface represented 13% of the total-P load and 21% of the total-N load. Both nutrients exhibited a summer maximum in concentration and loading.
In conjunction with the atmospheric nutrient study, sites at Liberty Lake and Pullman, Washington, were monitored for precipitation acidity. The volume-weighted mean bulk pH at Liberty Lake (5.1) and Pullman (4.7) indicate that rainfall over eastern Washington is presently at an acidic level (<pH 5.6). Analysis of historical data shows a 20-fold increase in precipitation acidity at Pullman since the early 1960s. Sulfuric acid is the dominant acid source. Present acidity loads do not exceed "dangerous levels" responsible for lake acidification elsewhere, but a monitoring program for sensitive areas is recommended.
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Details
- Title
- Atmospheric loading of nutrients and acidity to Liberty Lake
- Creators
- Thomas Joseph Belnick
- Contributors
- W. H. Funk (Chair)J. Kittrick (Committee Member)Harry L. Gibbons Jr. (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- School of the Environment (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 61
- Identifiers
- 99901225854201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis