On the chemical composition of some waters from the Moor House Nature Reserve

Analyses for pH, specific conductivity, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO4, HCO3, NO3-N, PO4-P and SiO2 are presented from some natural waters in the. Pennine nature reserve at Moor House in northern England, chiefly from pools on blanket bog peat. Samples were collected during both wet and dry weather. In wet periods the bog waters resembled rain in composition and concentration. During dry weather there was a marked increase in concentration, due to release of sulphuric acid from the peat, and to exchange of hydrogen ions for metal cations adsorbed on the peat colloids. Certain floristic differences between British and Swedish bogs fed solely by atmospheric precipitation are examined in relation to differences in ionic concentration of the bog waters.