Sources of phosphorus inputs from the atmosphere and their significance to oligotrophic lakes
Year: 1974
Type: article
Abstract: Precipitation in the Chicago area was analyzed and found to contain .034 mg/l. of phosphorus with about one half of this present as orthophosphate. Because of the small amounts of phosphorus needed to stimulate the growth of organisms in bodies of water which are phosphorus limited, these inputs from the atmosphere are important to many natural bodies of water. From one-fifth to one-third of the phosphorus going into Lake Michigan is from precipitation. The sources of this phosphorus were investigated and found to be almost all sources of particulate matter. With the exception of emissions from the fertilizer industry these were found to contain a relatively consistent 0.1 percent phosphorus. Since the discharge of particulates to the atmosphere are being controlled, contributions of phosphorus to bodies of water from the atmosphere would also be controlled.
Author: Thomas J. Murphy
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2591891864