Chemical Analysis in Ecology Illustrated From Lake District Tarns and Lakes. 1. Chemical Analysis

The major ionic solutes of the surface waters of the English Lake District are the cations—sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium and hydrogen, and the anions—bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate and nitrate. These ions generally approximate to 99% of the dissolved ionic material. The quantitative chemical differences between the various waters of the district are brought about by the variations in concentration and proportion of these ions. There are two sources of supply of dissolved substances to surface waters: (1) precipitation of air-borne materials, either dissolved in rain or in the form of dry particulate material derived from terrestrial dust or evaporated sea-spray, and (2) direct solution of the rocks and soils of the drainage basin.