Response of alpine lakes and soils to changes in acid deposition: the MAGIC model applied to the Tatra Mountain region, Slovakia-Poland
TL;DR: In this paper, a dynamic process-based model of surface water acidification, MAGIC, was applied to 31 representative alpine lakes in the Tatra Mountains and the model was calibrated to observed lake chemistry for the period 1980-2002.
Abstract: A dynamic process-based model of surface water acidification, MAGIC, was applied to 31 representative alpine lakes in the Tatra Mountains (~50% of all alpine lakes >0.3 ha in the lake-district). The model was calibrated to observed lake chemistry for the period 1980-2002. Surface water and soil chemistry were reconstructed from 1860 to 2002, given estimates of historical acid deposition, and forecast to 2020 based on the reduction in sulphur and nitrogen emissions presupposed by the Gothenburg Protocol. In the 1860s, all lakes were buffered by the carbonate system and only ~6% of lakes had acid neutralising capacity (ANC) 50% of the SAA change) in sensitive lakes with intermediate weathering rates and little soils (low BC exchangeable capacity and elevated terrestrial export of nitrate) and (3) by parallel changes in concentrations of protons and aluminium (each ~20% of the SAA change) in extremely sensitive lakes, with the lowest weathering rates and soil base saturation. The full implementation of the Gothenburg Protocol will not be sufficient to allow recovery of the latter group of lakes, which will remain acidified after 2020.
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TL;DR: Signs of increasing oligotrophication have been apparent in the open waters of both Lake Huron and Lake Michigan in recent years as discussed by the authors, consistent with decreases in productivity, leading to a distinct convergence of the trophic state and lower food web in the three lakes.
128 citations
TL;DR: The respective rates of SO2, NOx, and NH3 anthropogenic emissions in the former Czechoslovakia (the Czech Republic and Slovakia (CS)) were investigated in this paper.
112 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of 350 remote high altitude and high latitude lakes from 11 different mountain regions was undertaken to explore species distribution across Europe at a scale not previously attempted, where each lake was characterised in terms of water chemistry, morphology, catchment attributes and geographical location.
Abstract: P> A survey of c. 350 remote high altitude and high latitude lakes from 11 different mountain regions was undertaken to explore species distribution across Europe at a scale not previously attempted.Lakes were sampled for planktonic crustaceans, rotifers, littoral invertebrates and sub-fossil chironomids, diatoms and cladocerans. Each lake was characterised in terms of water chemistry, morphology, catchment attributes and geographical location.Separate twinspan analyses were undertaken on diatom, chironomid, planktonic crustacean, littoral invertebrate and cladoceran (chydorids only) data to classify sites according to taxonomic composition. For most datasets there was a spatial component to the classification with distinct geographical groups emerging - Norway and Scotland, Finland and Central/Eastern Europe.Constrained ordination methods were employed to examine how species responded to a range of environmental factors, which were aggregated into a series of component groups - proximal environment (the chemical, trophic and physical attributes of the lake), catchment characteristics and geographical location. Several key environmental gradients were identified, which explained significant levels of the variance across several of the biological groups including dissolved organic carbon (chironomids, planktonic crustaceans), temperature (chironomids and littoral invertebrates), chloride/sea-salt (littoral invertebrates, diatoms and rotifers), lake morphology (all groups), calcium/pH (diatoms), nitrate (chydorids, littoral invertebrates, rotifers and planktonic crustaceans) and fish (littoral invertebrates). In some cases these statistical relationships are likely to represent direct ecological constraints and, in others, it is probable that the environmental variable is acting as a surrogate for some other attribute or process.Variance partitioning was undertaken to quantify how much of the variation in each biological group could be uniquely attributed to variables representing the proximal environment, catchment characteristics and geographical location. For most groups the location of the lake tends to explain the greatest variation in species composition across the Lake Districts. The proximal environment was also important but, with the exception of diatoms, secondary to location. Therefore, a strong geographical signal emerged from the analyses. Three distinct limno-regions were identified; Nordic (Scotland and Norway), Sub-Arctic (Northern Finland) and Alpine (Pyrenees, the Alps and Eastern Europe ranges).Our results have implications for the development of regionalisation schemes based on biological responses to environmental gradients; (i) lake 'types' based on environmental factors cannot be extrapolated throughout Europe, even within the relatively narrow gradients found in remote mountain lakes, (ii) biotic response to large-scale variations in environmental conditions, such as those that could be expected with climate change, is likely to vary according to regions because of the biogeographical differences among them.
89 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the Tatra lakes were sampled and analyzed for ionic and nutrient composition in September 2004 (15 years after reduction in acid deposition) and the results were compared to similar lake surveys from 1994 (the beginning of water recovery from acidification) and 1984 (maximum acidification).
Abstract: Ninety-one lakes distributed along the Tatra Mountains (most of lakes > 1 ha and 65% of lakes > 0.01 ha) were sampled and analysed for ionic and nutrient composition in September 2004 (15 years after reduction in acid deposition). Eighty-one lakes were in alpine zone and ten lakes in Norway spruce forest. The results were compared to similar lake surveys from 1994 (the beginning of water recovery from acidification) and 1984 (maximum acidification). Atmospheric deposition of SO
4
2−
and inorganic N decreased 57% and 35%, respectively, in this region from the late 1980s to 2000. Lake water concentrations of SO
4
2−
and NO
3
−
have decreased both by ∼50% on average (to 23 and 19 μmol L−1, respectively, in 2004) since 1984. While the decrease in SO
4
2−
concentrations was stable throughout 1984–2004, most of the NO
3
−
decrease occurred from 1994 to 2004. The declines in SO
4
2−
and NO
3
−
concentrations depended on catchment coverage with vegetation, being most rapid for SO
4
2−
in forest lakes and for NO
3
−
in rocky lakes. Concentrations of the sum of base cations (dominated by Ca2+) significantly decreased between 1984 and 2004, with the highest change in rocky lakes. Most of this decline occurred between 1994 and 2004. Acid neutralising capacity (ANC) did not change in the 1984–1994 period, but increased on average by 29 μmol L−1 between 1994 and 2004, with the highest change in rocky lakes. Over the last decade, the proportion of lakes with ANC > 150 μmol L−1 increased from 15% to 21% and that of ANC < 20 μmol L−1 decreased from 37% to 20%. The highest decline in H+ and Al concentrations occurred in the most acid lakes. On a regional basis, no significant change was observed for total phosphorus, total organic nitrogen, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the 1994–2004 period. However, these parameters increased in forest lakes, which exhibited an increasing trend in DOC concentrations, inversely related (P < 0.001) to their decreasing ionic strength (30% on average in 1994–2004).
68 citations
Cites background or methods from "Response of alpine lakes and soils ..."
...The averages of soil base saturation and C : N molar ratios are 12% and 17, respectively (KOPÁČEK et al., 2004b, 2006b)....
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...The reasons and consequences of this relationship are discussed elsewhere (Kopáček et al., 2000b, 2004b)....
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...Data on atmospheric deposition (volume weighted mean composition of wet-only precipitation at Skalnaté pleso over the 1997–2000 period) come from KOPÁČEK et al. (2004b)....
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...Concentrations of Ca2+ and ANC (or HCO−3 ) in the Tatra lakes exhibit a random distribution with no correlation to composition of the dominant siliceous bedrock or composition and pools of soils (Kopáček et al., 2004b, 2006b)....
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...The 1993–1994 survey represents the early period of lake water recovery from acidification (Kopáček et al., 2004a). c©2006 Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences In September–October 2000, forty-nine large alpine lakes (with surface area > 0.3 ha) were sampled along the whole lake…...
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References
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TL;DR: In this article, a procedure was developed for the fractionation of aqueous aluminum, which results in the determination of acid-soluble aluminum, non-labile monomeric aluminum and labile moneric aluminum.
Abstract: A procedure was developed for the fractionation of aqueous aluminum. This procedure results in the determination of acid-soluble aluminum, non-labile monomeric aluminum and labile monomeric aluminum. Acid-soluble aluminum is thought to include colloidal aluminum and extremely non-labile organic complexes. Non-labile monomeric aluminum is thought to include monomeric alumino-organic complexes. Labile monomeric is comprised of aquo aluminum as well as inorganic complexes of aluminum. The inorganic speciation of aluminum may be calculated by using labile monomeric aluminum, pH, fluoride and sulfate data with a chemical equilibrium model. This procedure was evaluated using synthetic and natural water solutions. In natural waters, levels of labile monomeric aluminum increased exponentially with decreases in solution pH, while non-labile monomeric aluminum was strongly correlated with organic carbon concentration. Non-labile monomeric aluminum was observed to be relatively insensitive to changes in sol...
688 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report evidence for steep declines in the atmospheric concentrations of base cations (sum of non-sea-salt Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+) over the past 10 to 26 years from high-quality precipitation chemistry records in Europe and North America.
Abstract: HUMAN activities have caused marked changes in atmospheric chemistry over large regions of Europe and North America. Although considerable attention has been paid to the effects of changes in the deposition of acid anions (such as sulphate and nitrate) on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems1–7, little is known about whether the concentrations of basic components of the atmosphere have changed over time8,9 and what the biogeochemical consequences of such potential changes might be. In particular, there has been some controversy8–12 as to whether declines in base-cation deposition have countered effects of recent reductions in SO2emission. Here we report evidence for steep declines in the atmospheric concentrations of base cations (sum of non-sea-salt Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+) over the past 10 to 26 years from high-quality precipitation chemistry records in Europe and North America. To varying but generally significant degrees, these base-cation trends have offset recent reductions in sulphate deposition in the regions examined. The observed trends seem to be ecologically important on decadal timescales, and support earlier contentions8–10 that declines in the deposition of base cations may have contributed to increased sensitivity of poorly buffered ecosystems.
389 citations
TL;DR: The MAGIC model has proven to be robust, reliable and useful in a variety of scientific and managerial activities as discussed by the authors, which has been applied and tested extensively over a 15 year period at many sites and in many regions around the world.
Abstract: . The MAGIC model of the responses of catchments to acidic deposition has been applied and tested extensively over a 15 year period at many sites and in many regions around the world. Overall, the model has proven to be robust, reliable and useful in a variety of scientific and managerial activities. Over the years, several refinements and additions to MAGIC have been proposed and/or implemented for particular applications. These adjustments to the model structure have all been included in a new version of the model (MAGIC7). The log aluminium – pH relationship now does not have to be fixed to aluminium trihydroxide solubility. Buffering by organic acids using a triprotic analog is now included. Dynamics of nitrogen retention and loss in catchments can now be linked to soil nitrogen and carbon pools. Simulation of short-term episodic response by mixing fractions of different water types is also possible. This paper presents a review of the conceptual structure of MAGIC7 relating to long-term simulation of acidification and recovery, describes the conceptual basis of the new nitrogen dynamics and provides a comprehensive update of the equations, variables, parameters and inputs for the model. Keywords: process-based model, acid deposition, recovery
281 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, water quality data for 56 long-term monitoring sites in eight European countries are used to assess freshwater responses to reductions in acid deposition at a large spatial scale, and a consistent analysis of trends from 1980 onwards, the majority of surface waters (38 of 56) showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) decreasing trends in pollution-derived sulphate.
Abstract: . Water quality data for 56 long-term monitoring sites in eight European countries are used to assess freshwater responses to reductions in acid deposition at a large spatial scale. In a consistent analysis of trends from 1980 onwards, the majority of surface waters (38 of 56) showed significant (p ≤0.05) decreasing trends in pollution-derived sulphate. Only two sites showed a significant increase. Nitrate, on the other hand, had a much weaker and more varied pattern, with no significant trend at 35 of 56 sites, decreases at some sites in Scandinavia and Central Europe, and increases at some sites in Italy and the UK. The general reduction in surface water acid anion concentrations has led to increases in acid neutralising capacity (significant at 27 of 56 sites) but has also been offset in part by decreases in base cations, particularly calcium (significant at 26 of 56 sites), indicating that much of the improvement in runoff quality to date has been the result of decreasing ionic strength. Increases in acid neutralising capacity have been accompanied by increases in pH and decreases in aluminium, although fewer trends were significant (pH 19 of 56, aluminium 13 of 53). Increases in pH appear to have been limited in some areas by rising concentrations of organic acids. Within a general trend towards recovery, some inter-regional variation is evident, with recovery strongest in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, moderate in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom, and apparently weakest in Germany. Keywords: acidification, recovery, European trends, sulphate, nitrate, acid neutralising capacity
280 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report the derivation and calculation of deposition trends of potentially acidifying compounds SO2, NOx and NH3 in sensitive freshwater regions in Europe studied in the EU-funded RECOVER: 2010 project.
Abstract: . Time series of the deposition of acidifying substances are a pre-requisite for the study of the acidification and recovery of ecosystems such as surface waters. This paper reports the derivation and calculation of deposition trends of the potentially acidifying compounds SO2, NOx and NH3 in sensitive freshwater regions in Europe studied in the EU-funded RECOVER: 2010 project. The time interval covered is 151 years: from 1880, which can be considered as the pre-industrial era in most countries, to 2030, taking into account the consequences of current emission reduction agreements in Europe. The historic and predicted emissions for European countries are used to calculate the deposition development in the study areas, using meteorologically averaged atmospheric source-receptor transfer coefficients derived from the EMEP Lagrangian acid deposition model. These time series were used as driving forces for the application of the dynamic acidification model MAGIC to study the acidification and recovery of sensitive freshwater ecosystems in Europe. Keywords: acid deposition, historic depositions, sensitive lake regions, Europe
264 citations
"Response of alpine lakes and soils ..." refers methods or result in this paper
...An even greater disproportion would result from the S deposition sequence provided by EMEP model (Schöpp et al. 2003)....
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...In general, they have similar shapes to the deposition sequences derived for the region from the EMEP Lagrangian acid deposition model by Schöpp et al. (2003), but they are lower and have a broader peak of maximum N deposition in the 1970s and 1990s (consistent with the measured data at the nearby…...
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