Dissolved organic matter contribution to rain water, throughfall and soil solution chemistry

Abstract

A method is proposed to determine the acid-base properties of natural water samples containing relatively high amounts of dissolved organic matter. The electroneutrality principle as well as titration data are used to estimate the organic anion concentration in open field precipitation, throughfall and soil solutions, and to develop empirical models based on pH and dissolved organic carbon content. The organic acids dissolved in throughfall have a similar acidic site density but are weaker than those dissolved in soil solution, stream and lake waters. This method is useful to determine the contribution of organic anions to the charge balance and to the buffering capacity of dissolved organic rich waters with low acid neutralizing capacity. It can be used also to determine the respective contribution of natural organics and anthropogenic minerals to the total acidity of throughfall and rain waters.