The MOLAR Project: atmospheric deposition and lake water chemistry

In the framework of the Mountain Lake Research (MOLAR) project, the water chemistry of 23 lakes covering Europe from the Svalbard Islands to the South of Spain were studied. The lakes are located above or beyond the timber line in the most important mountain areas in Europe. Atmospheric deposition w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Limnology
Main Author: The MOLAR Water Chemistry Group
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 1999
Subjects:
G
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.1999.88
https://doaj.org/article/ab13bf05a64e4951be791c79ad283333
Description
Summary:In the framework of the Mountain Lake Research (MOLAR) project, the water chemistry of 23 lakes covering Europe from the Svalbard Islands to the South of Spain were studied. The lakes are located above or beyond the timber line in the most important mountain areas in Europe. Atmospheric deposition was sampled at 11 sites, representative of different lake districts. 24 institutions took part in the activity. The comparability of the analytical results performed in 18 laboratories was assured by strict sampling and analysis protocols and by a detailed programme of Analytical Quality Assessment/Control. The paper summarises the main morphometric and hydrological characteristics of the lakes and their watersheds and discusses the results of the atmospheric deposition and lake water chemistry. An overview on the main processes controlling the composition and ionic ratio of deposition and lake chemistry is given.