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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