Objective
To investigate in detail the fate of acid rain in catchments with a high content in Humic Substances (HS) in soil and in soil water.
The "EXTENDED HUMOR" project will expand the scope of the ongoing "HUMOR" project, implemented in the STEP Programme (contract STEP-CT90-0112), mainly by elucidating to which extent Humic Substances (HS) are modifying the chemical and biological processes which are taking place during the passage of acid precipitation water through the soil in a catchment towards a lake.
The investigations will include:
- chemical characterization (including lipid and fatty acid composition) of acidified and non-acidified humic substances;
- determination of the effect of pH and HS on lipid solubility, microbial respiration and macroinvertebrate physiology;
- detailed characterisation of the hydrology, chemistry and biology of the land-water interface ("hydraulic vents").
The project will combine field with laboratory investigations. The field work will focus on the 6.5 ha catchment area of Lake Skervatjern, a 2.4 ha dystrophic lake located in Western Norway. This field site is also subject to the Norwegian/international project "HUMEX" (Humic Lake Acidification Experiment).
The experiments will contribute to a better understanding how HS are modifying the acidification processes in the terrestrial and aquatic compartments of catchments subject to air pollution loads.
Coordinator
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom
Participants (4)
08034 Barcelona
100 44 Stockholm
223 62 Lund
0411 Oslo
