Processes neutralizing atmospheric acidification in a sandy aquifer in Northern Germany

摘要

At forested sites of the Fuhrberger Feld aquifer in northern Germany, groundwater is impacted by acid input, resulting in acidification within the uppermost groundwater zone. Major buffering processes in the groundwater are weathering, sulfate reduction and cation exchange. Modelling the buffering process confirms that the neutralization of acidity can be explained mainly by the last two processes. At the study site the acidification front will eventually reach a maximum travel distance of about 1200 m. However, variability of concentrations in groundwater and sediment properties leads to uncertainties in the predicted buffering rates.