Rainwater as a chemical agent of geologic processes; a review
Water Supply Paper
1535-G
By: Dorothy Carroll
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Abstract
Chemical analyses of the rainwater collected at several localities are given to show the variations of the principal constitutents. In rock weathering and soil-forming processes, the chemical composition of rainwater has an important effect which has been evaluated for only a few arid areas. In humid regions the important amounts of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium added yearly by rain may be expected to influence the composition of the soil water and thereby the cations in the exchange positions of soil clay minerals. The acquisition of cations by clay minerals may slow down chemical weathering. The stability of soil clay minerals is influenced by the constant accession of cations from rainwater. Conversely, the clay minerals modify the amounts and kinds of cations that are leached out by drainage waters. The stability of micaceous minerals in soils may be partly due to accessions of K +1 ions from rainwater.
The pH of rainwater in any area varies considerably and seems to form a seasonal and regional pattern. The recorded pH values range from 3.0 to 9.8.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Rainwater as a chemical agent of geologic processes; a review |
| Series title | Water Supply Paper |
| Series number | 1535 |
| Chapter | G |
| DOI | 10.3133/wsp1535G |
| Edition | - |
| Year Published | 1962 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Govt. Print. Off., |
| Description | 18 p., 1 leaf of plates ;23 cm. Reprinted 1965 |
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