Linking streamwater quality of the upper Vaal River catchment area to acid deposition

Abstract

Acid deposition is the conveyance of acid compounds predominantly oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, acids, and salts from the atmosphere to the earth's surface. It has detrimental effects on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The concentration of industrial structure over the Highveld region of South Africa makes it a prominent air pollution area accounting for approximately 90% of South Africa's scheduled emissions of industrial dust, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The high pollution levels mean the Highveld region is an acid deposition hotspot. This paper investigated the link between stream water quality and acid deposition by precluding the influence of land use and catchment geology on water quality in the Upper Vaal. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version]