Acidification of groundwater in the Bohemian Massif.

Abstract

An investigation of regional groundwater acidification in the Krusne Hory mountains of northern Bohemia has been carried out. It is based on a comparison of two groundwater chemistry data sets, from the years 1955-1969 and 1980-1990 respectively. The survey uncovered a fivefold increase in the average concentration of NO,-from 0.06 meq\/l (4 mg\/l) to 0.31 meq\/l over the 25 year period, and a halving of the groundwater's average alkalinity. The most acidified groundwaters were found at the highest altitudes, but the most rapid rate of change in the groundwater's chemistry was found lower down, where for example, NO,- concentrations have increased by a factor of 10 over the study period.