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Enhanced photochemical loss of organic carbon in acidic waters

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Abstract

Previous studies have shown that (a) a large portion of theannual total organic carbon (TOC) inputs to central Ontario lakes iseither lost to sediments or degraded and lost via evasion to theatmosphere, (b) the partitioning of organic carbon between sediments andthe atmosphere appears to be a function of acidity and (c) UVirradiation can account for observed long-term loss of TOC from thewater column. These findings were extended by examining whether acidityenhances photo-oxidative losses of TOC. Stream waters (initialalkalinities between −97 and 233 µeq l−1)were incubated in UV-transparent containers under incident solarradiation for periods ranging from 14 to 23 days. The highestphoto-oxidation rates occurred when alkalinity was negative. Additionsof acid and base to stream waters increased and decreasedphoto-oxidation rates, respectively. The exceptional clarity ofatmospherically acidified lakes is usually attributed to increasedprecipitation of Al-organic carbon complexes but may instead be due tohigher photo-oxidation rates of allocthonous organic carbon leading tohigher evasion rates of CO2.

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Author notes

  1. Chad Gennings

    Present address: , 43-1951 Rathburn Road East, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 2N9, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, York University, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada;

    Chad Gennings

  2. Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada (author for correspondence, e-mail:

    Lewis A. Molot

  3. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Dorset Environmental Science Centre, P.O. Box 39, Dorset, Ontario, P0A 1E0, Canada

    Peter J. Dillon

Authors
  1. Chad Gennings
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  2. Lewis A. Molot
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  3. Peter J. Dillon
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Correspondence to Lewis A. Molot.

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Gennings, C., Molot, L.A. & Dillon, P.J. Enhanced photochemical loss of organic carbon in acidic waters. Biogeochemistry 52, 339–354 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006499713835

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