Acidification Status of Surface Waters in the Niger Delta, Nigeria: A Review of Results and Predictions for the Future.
Akpofure Rim-Rukeh
Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
Acidification Status of Surface Waters in the Niger Delta, Nigeria: A Review of Results and Predictions for the FutureAbstract
Acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the earth’s surface water systems and effects of increasing acidification calls for regular monitoring. The acidification status of regional-scale surface water bodies was studied using data from a relevant and related literature of rivers (15), creeks (7), streams (5) and lakes (4). Data from 2007 to 2016 were used for statistical trend analysis. Results indicate that all surface water bodies were slightly acidic with mean pH values of rivers (5.97), creeks (6.29), streams (5.67) and lakes (6.10). Causes of acidification were attributed to the formation of humic acid, increased acidic deposition occasioned by gas flaring, and waste disposal. Results also indicate a weak positive relationship between the mean pH values and the period of study. The fitted regression line of y = -0.0297x 65769 was obtained. However, the relationship is not perfect as each individual year did not always show a pH increase relative to the previous year, and some years show greater changes than others. There is a clear warming trend indicative of the impacts of acidification and recovery process should be put in place.
Keywords: streams; lakes; creeks; acidification; acidic deposition; humic acid; river system
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