Hydrologic Control of Lake Susceptibility to Acidification

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Abstract
In the summer of 1979, 275 lakes were sampled to assess the factors controlling susceptibility of northcentral Wisconsin [USA] lakes to acidification. In addition to direct evaluation of means and ranges of the physical and chemical characteristics, a cluster analysis was carried out using alkalinity, color and chlorophyll a data. Three well-defined clusters emerged that appeared to be controlled by hydrology: A, dominated by surface runoff; B, dominated by groundwater; and C, dominated by precipitation. Relationships between morphometric, hydrologic and terrigenous factors that can influence lake water quality and susceptibility were further examined by discriminant analysis of 18 watershed properties across the 3 lake clusters. Hydrologic factors were important in differentiating the low and high alkalinity lakes. The potentially sensitive low alkalinity lakes in northcentral Wisconsin lack surface inlets or outlets and their chemistry is closely associated with precipitation chemistry.

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