Fölster, Jens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Acidification of lakes and rivers is still an environmental concern despite reduced emissions of acidifying compounds. We analysed trends in surface water chemistry of 173 acid-sensitive sites from 12 regions in Europe and North America. In 11 of 12 regions, non-marine sulphate (SO4*) declined significantly between 1990 and 2008 (-15 to -59 %). In contrast, regional and temporal trends in nitrate were smaller and less uniform. In 11 of 12 regions, chemical recovery was demonstrated in the form of positive trends in pH and/or alkalinity and/or acid neutralising capacity (ANC). The positive trends in these indicators of chemical recovery were regionally and temporally less distinct than the decline in SO4* and tended to flatten after 1999. From an ecological perspective, the chemical quality of surface waters in acid-sensitive areas in these regions has clearly improved as a consequence of emission abatement strategies, paving the way for some biological recovery.
Keywords
Acid deposition; Surfacewaters; Trend analysis; Monitoring network; Chemical recovery
Published in
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
2014, volume: 225, number: 3, article number: 1880
Publisher: SPRINGER
SLU Authors
Global goals (SDG)
SDG3 Good health and well-being
SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
UKÄ Subject classification
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-1880-6
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/68187