scholarly journals Rapid Recent Recovery from Acidic Deposition in Central Ontario Lakes

Soil Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun A. Watmough ◽  
M. Catherine Eimers
Keyword(s):  
Acidic Deposition ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Chemical Recovery ◽  
Charge Balance ◽  
Limited Effect ◽  
Lake Recovery ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Carbon Concentrations ◽  
S Deposition

In many regions, chemical recovery in lakes from acidic deposition has been generally slower than expected due to a variety of factors, including continued soil acidification, climate-induced sulphate (SO4) loading to lakes and increases in organic acidity. In central Ontario, Canada, atmospheric sulphur (S) deposition decreased by approximately two-thirds between 1982 and 2015, with half of this reduction occurring between 2005 and 2015. Chemical recovery in the seven lakes was limited prior to 2005, with only small increases in pH, Gran alkalinity and charge-balance ANC (acid-neutralizing capacity). This was because lake SO4 concentrations closely followed changes in S deposition, and decreases in base cation concentration closely matched declines in SO4. However, decreases in S deposition and lake SO4 were more pronounced post-2005, and much smaller decreases in lake base cation concentrations relative to SO4 resulted in large and rapid increases in pH, alkalinity and ANC. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations in lakes increased over the study period, but had a limited effect on lake recovery. Clear chemical recovery of these lakes only occurred after 2005, coinciding with a period of dramatic declines in S deposition.

Base cation reservoirs in soil control the buffering capacity of lakes in forested catchments

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Houle ◽  
Rock Ouimet ◽  
Suzanne Couture ◽  
Christian Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
North America ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Forested Catchments ◽  
Northeastern North America ◽  
Poor Recovery ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity

The acidification of forest soils and surface waters and their relatively poor recovery record following reductions in atmospheric sulphur emissions is a major ongoing environmental problem, particularly in northeastern North America. The slow recovery of surface water is widely hypothesized to result from depletion of reservoirs of base cations in soil. This is concordant with the theory that the acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) of lakes is likely proportional to the size of the exchangeable base cation reservoirs present in surrounding watershed soils. However, data describing these linkages are still nonexistent in the literature. Here we show that lake ANC is highly predictable (r2 = 0.75) based on the size of the exchangeable Ca2+ reservoir in soil in 21 catchments representative of soil and lake conditions encountered in northeastern North America. This finding indirectly supports the hypothesis that the poor recovery of surface water from acidification is governed by the size of base cation reservoirs present in catchment soils. The size of the base cation reservoir in soil is thus a strong indicator of the acid–base status of both soils and surface waters.

scholarly journals Probabilistic relations between acid–base chemistry and fish assemblages in streams of the western Adirondack Mountains, New York, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 2013-2026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry P. Baldigo ◽  
Scott D. George ◽  
Timothy J. Sullivan ◽  
Charles T. Driscoll ◽  
Douglas A. Burns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Total Density ◽  
Adirondack Mountains ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Late 20Th Century ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
S Deposition

Surface waters across much of New York’s Adirondack Mountains were acidified in the late 20th century but began to recover following the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act. Little data, however, are available to characterize biological impacts and predict recovery of fish assemblages in streams of the region. Quantitative fish and chemistry surveys were completed in 47 headwater streams during summer 2014–2016 to develop logistic (probabilistic) models that characterize the status of contemporary fish assemblages and predict how different nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition loads may affect future fish assemblages. Models for inorganic monomeric aluminum (Ali) and richness ≥1 species and for acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and total density >400 fish/0.1 ha, total biomass >1500 g/0.1 ha, brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) density >0 or >200 fish/0.1 ha, and brook trout biomass >1000 g/0.1 ha were suitable for evaluating community and population responses to changes in acid–base chemistry. Anticipated changes in national (US) secondary standards for atmospheric emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx) to achieve target N and S deposition loads will alter acid–base chemistry and the probabilities for observing various levels of fish metrics in streams across the region and elsewhere.

Effects of acidic deposition on North American lakes: palaeolimnological evidence from diatoms and chrysophytes

1990 ◽  
Vol 327 (1240) ◽  
pp. 403-412 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New England ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Acidic Deposition ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Calibration Data ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Inferred Ph

Analysis of sediment diatom and chrysophyte assemblages is the best technique currently available for inferring past lake water pH trends. Use of this approach for assessing the ecological effects of acidic deposition is increasing rapidly. As of August 1989, sediment core inferred pH data existed for at least 150 lakes in North America and cores from about 100 more lakes are being analysed. Equations for inferring past pH are based on at least 15-20 calibration data-sets involving about 700 lakes. Palaeolimnological studies indicate that recent acidification has been caused by acidic deposition in the Adirondack Mountains (New York), northern New England, Ontario, Quebec and the Canadian Atlantic provinces. Inferred pH decreases are commonly as much as 0.5-1.0 pH units. With the exception of one lake, no acidification trends were observed in regions currently receiving low deposition of strong acids (e.g. Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada in the western United States). Slight or no trends towards decreasing pH were observed in study lakes receiving moderately acidic deposition (upper Mid-west and northern Florida). The amount of inferred acidification (increase in H + concentration) correlates with the amount of S and N loading and the ability of watersheds and lakes to neutralize acid inputs, and is generally consistent with current lake-acidification theory. In most cases, the primary cause of recent acidification (post-1850) is acidic deposition, as opposed to land-use changes or natural processes, though these may be contributing factors. Acid loading has decreased in some regions since 1970 (e.g., northeastern United States). Some lakes have become less acidic in response, but others continue to lose acid neutralizing capacity. Many currently acidic lakes were naturally acidic (pH < 5.5) before the onset of anthropogenic acidification. These lakes are typically small (less than 10 ha) are located at moderately high elevations, have thin or peaty soils, or are located in outwash deposits. Many of these have acidified further recently.

Recovery from acidification in Nova Scotia: temporal trends and critical loads for 20 headwater lakes

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1504-1514 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Whitfield ◽  
J Aherne ◽  
S A Watmough ◽  
P J Dillon ◽  
T A Clair
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Critical Load ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Headwater Lakes ◽  
Fab Model ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
S Deposition ◽  
Critical Load Exceedance

The chemical response of 20 headwater lakes in Nova Scotia to reduced acid deposition was investigated using trend analysis, and the need for further reductions was assessed using two steady-state, critical load models. Significant decreases were observed in the concentration of nonmarine sulphate (SO42–) and hydrogen (H+) at four wet deposition monitoring stations across Atlantic Canada since 1984. Dominant trends in surface water were decreasing SO42– concentrations, with little improvement in alkalinity and H+. Based on the Steady State Water Chemistry (SSWC) and First-order Acidity Balance (FAB) models, and using a critical chemical limit for acid-neutralizing capacity of 20 µmolc·L–1, critical load is exceeded at 9 and 13 of the 20 study lakes, respectively. Application of the SSWC model suggests that sulphur (S) deposition must be reduced by 37.3 mmolc·m–2·year–1 from 1997 levels to prevent critical load exceedance at 95% of the study lakes. Using the FAB model, the minimum reductions in nitrogen and S deposition necessary to protect 95% of the study lakes are 32.7 and 42.1 mmolc·m–2·year–1, respectively. Additional reductions beyond those proposed for 2030 are required to minimize critical load exceedance and promote recovery in alkalinity and pH of surface waters at the study catchments.

Assessing the impacts of acidification on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): a simple model of stream chemistry

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 2117-2126 ◽  
Author(s):  
D R Marmorek ◽  
G L Lacroix ◽  
J Korman ◽  
I Parnell ◽  
W D Watt
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Salmo Salar ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Chemical Model ◽  
Charge Balance ◽  
Charge Densities ◽  
Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar ◽  
F Factor ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Salmon Smolt

We developed a model that simulates the effects of changes in sulphate (SO42-) deposition on the chemistry of naturally organic-rich streams, linked this chemical model to a model of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) production (Korman et al. 1994. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 51: 662-680), and assessed its performance on three acidified streams in southwest Nova Scotia. The chemical model closely tracked current chemistry by estimating the charge density required for charge balance on each sampling date. Calculated charge densities were generally low (1-3 µequiv./mg dissolved organic carbon (DOC)), inversely related to DOC, and positively related to pH. Predictions of minimum pH and salmon smolt output were relatively insensitive to the assumed F-factor (watershed neutralization of deposited acidity) in the parameter range most likely for the three streams. The model permits rapid impact assessment of acid deposition scenarios with a modest amount of input data (acid-neutralizing capacity, pH, SO42-, and DOC, ideally sampled weekly) while retaining natural cycles and processes.

Measurement of the acid neutralizing capacity of agroforestry tree prunings added to tropical soils

2000 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. F. WONG ◽  
P. GIBBS ◽  
S. NORTCLIFF ◽  
R. S. SWIFT
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Tropical Soils ◽  
Gliricidia Sepium ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Calliandra Calothyrsus ◽  
Aluminium Content ◽  
Grevillea Robusta ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Total Base

Laboratory incubation in the UK of an Oxisol from Burundi and an Ultisol from Cameroon with 3·1% by weight of prunings of young shoots of Calliandra calothyrsus, Cassia siamea, Flemingia congesta, Grevillea robusta, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena diversifolia and Leucaena leucocephala resulted in increased soil pH and decreased exchangeable aluminium content. The greatest increase in pH and corresponding decrease in exchangeable aluminium occurred during the first 14 days of incubation and the decrease continued at a slower rate until 42 days incubation. The acid neutralizing effect decreased after 42 days but was still important at the last sampling time at 98 days. Polyphenol to nitrogen ratio was not well correlated with observed change in soil pH whereas the total base cation (calcium, magnesium and potassium) content proved to be a good predictor of these changes in the Ultisol, but not in the Oxisol. The proposed mechanism giving rise to acid neutralization is complexation of protons and aluminium by organic anions. The total base cation content of the prunings ranged from 0·94 to 2·25 molc/kg and the buffer capacity of the Oxisol was 48 mmol OH−/pH/kg.

scholarly journals Impacts of acid deposition at Plastic Lake: forecasting chemical recovery using a Bayesian calibration and uncertainty propagation approach

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 249-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
George MacDougall ◽  
Julian Aherne ◽  
Shaun Watmough
Keyword(s):  
Uncertainty Propagation ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Chemical Recovery ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Stream Data ◽  
Confidence Bounds ◽  
Nitrogen Emissions ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Plastic Lake

Given the importance of models in the development of environmental polices it is necessary to assess the uncertainty introduced by model parameterisation and its impact on predictions. In the current study, an uncertainty framework designed to perform automated calibrations and developed for use with the Model of Acidification of Groundwater in Catchments (MAGIC) was applied to Plastic Lake, a long-term study site in Southern Ontario, Canada. The primary objectives were to investigate the chemical response of soil and surface water at Plastic Lake to proposed acid (sulfur and nitrogen) emissions and assess the use of the framework at a regional level. Despite the relatively high amount of uncertainty associated with many of the model parameters, calibration resulted in relatively narrow parameter convergence. The importance of time-series stream data was clearly evident, with uncertainty decreasing with more observation years. The forecast improvements in stream Acid Neutralizing Capacity at Plastic Lake from–40 μeq/L in 1988 to 14 μeq/L in 2060 had 5 and 95% confidence bounds of–3 and 29 μeq/L, respectively. Despite the limited availability of soil chemical data in Ontario, the approach applied at Plastic Lake is viable on a regional basis given the abundance of water chemistry data.

Voyage without constellation: evaluating the performance of three uncalibrated process-oriented models

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 261-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tominaga ◽  
J. Aherne ◽  
S. A. Watmough ◽  
M. Alveteg ◽  
B. J. Cosby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cation Exchange ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Acid Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Monitoring Site ◽  
Multiple Model ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Neutralizing Capacity ◽  
Structural Differences ◽  
Process Oriented

Three process-oriented dynamic acidification models were applied to a long-term monitoring site without calibration to evaluate the influence of model structural differences on simulation. The models were simplified to share as many commonalities as possible so that the main structural differences could be investigated. The models differed in sub-models for cation exchange, organic acids and acid anion speciation. All models were populated with ‘equivalent’ parameters by systematic input mapping. The influence of input variability was addressed through Monte Carlo parameter sampling. The three models behaved exactly the same for tracers (e.g. sulphate and chloride), indicating successful cross-parameterization of the models. Differences in model structure had an impact on some of the simulated chemical parameters. In particular, models using Gapon cation exchange simulated higher base saturation levels in the long run than their Gaines-Thomas counterparts, but simulated lower base cation concentration and acid neutralizing capacity in soil solution when acid deposition levels were high. Multiple-model evaluation frameworks as presented here allow for greater certainty in model predictions; ultimately, this type of framework should be employed when evaluating the impacts of future climate and environmental changes on soil and surface water hydrogeochemistry.

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