Paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region before potential onset of industrial development
Study region: McClelland Lake, Athabasca Oil Sands Region Study focus: Effective environmental monitoring requires knowledge of inherent natural variation. In the absence of pre-development monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, paleolimnological approaches have been championed as a scientifically rigoro...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100977 https://doaj.org/article/ba1118ae127c4fbb82b5e12a92bf7a7d |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ba1118ae127c4fbb82b5e12a92bf7a7d 2023-05-15T17:06:27+02:00 Paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region before potential onset of industrial development Nelson A. Zabel Amanda M. Soliguin Johan A. Wiklund S. Jean Birks John J. Gibson Xiaoying Fan Brent B. Wolfe Roland I. Hall 2022-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100977 https://doaj.org/article/ba1118ae127c4fbb82b5e12a92bf7a7d EN eng Elsevier http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581821002068 https://doaj.org/toc/2214-5818 2214-5818 doi:10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100977 https://doaj.org/article/ba1118ae127c4fbb82b5e12a92bf7a7d Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, Vol 39, Iss , Pp 100977- (2022) Paleolimnology Athabasca Oil Sands Region Environmental baseline Natural Range of Variation Monitoring Hydroecology Physical geography GB3-5030 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100977 2022-12-31T15:13:20Z Study region: McClelland Lake, Athabasca Oil Sands Region Study focus: Effective environmental monitoring requires knowledge of inherent natural variation. In the absence of pre-development monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, paleolimnological approaches have been championed as a scientifically rigorous method to define pre-development conditions. Motivated by regulatory processes and absence of pre-development data, we conducted a comprehensive paleolimnological study at McClelland Lake to determine an appropriate timeframe for defining natural ranges of variation (NRVs) in hydroecological variables before potential onset of mining within its catchment. New hydrological insights for the region: During the past ∼325 years, five distinctive intervals of hydroecological conditions were identified. The first phase (ca. 1695–1750) coincided with the Little Ice Age (LIA), when arid conditions supported lake levels 2.6–3.5 m below present. Phase II (ca. 1750–1840) encompassed subsequent warming, lake-level rise to 1.2–2.6 m below present and increased aquatic productivity. Phase III included frequent natural disturbance by wildfires (ca. 1840–1900). During Phase IV (ca. 1900–1970), the lake deepened and algal communities diversified. Phase V (post–1970) captured influence of regional industrial development, climate warming and lake-level decline, and wildfires. We propose quantitative definitions of NRVs for McClelland Lake be derived from paleolimnological indicators since 1750, which provide a conservative and relevant range of hydroecological conditions, and explore merits and drawbacks of shorter-duration NRV definition for monitoring change. Article in Journal/Newspaper Lake Athabasca Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 39 100977 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Paleolimnology Athabasca Oil Sands Region Environmental baseline Natural Range of Variation Monitoring Hydroecology Physical geography GB3-5030 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Paleolimnology Athabasca Oil Sands Region Environmental baseline Natural Range of Variation Monitoring Hydroecology Physical geography GB3-5030 Geology QE1-996.5 Nelson A. Zabel Amanda M. Soliguin Johan A. Wiklund S. Jean Birks John J. Gibson Xiaoying Fan Brent B. Wolfe Roland I. Hall Paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region before potential onset of industrial development |
topic_facet |
Paleolimnology Athabasca Oil Sands Region Environmental baseline Natural Range of Variation Monitoring Hydroecology Physical geography GB3-5030 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Study region: McClelland Lake, Athabasca Oil Sands Region Study focus: Effective environmental monitoring requires knowledge of inherent natural variation. In the absence of pre-development monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, paleolimnological approaches have been championed as a scientifically rigorous method to define pre-development conditions. Motivated by regulatory processes and absence of pre-development data, we conducted a comprehensive paleolimnological study at McClelland Lake to determine an appropriate timeframe for defining natural ranges of variation (NRVs) in hydroecological variables before potential onset of mining within its catchment. New hydrological insights for the region: During the past ∼325 years, five distinctive intervals of hydroecological conditions were identified. The first phase (ca. 1695–1750) coincided with the Little Ice Age (LIA), when arid conditions supported lake levels 2.6–3.5 m below present. Phase II (ca. 1750–1840) encompassed subsequent warming, lake-level rise to 1.2–2.6 m below present and increased aquatic productivity. Phase III included frequent natural disturbance by wildfires (ca. 1840–1900). During Phase IV (ca. 1900–1970), the lake deepened and algal communities diversified. Phase V (post–1970) captured influence of regional industrial development, climate warming and lake-level decline, and wildfires. We propose quantitative definitions of NRVs for McClelland Lake be derived from paleolimnological indicators since 1750, which provide a conservative and relevant range of hydroecological conditions, and explore merits and drawbacks of shorter-duration NRV definition for monitoring change. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nelson A. Zabel Amanda M. Soliguin Johan A. Wiklund S. Jean Birks John J. Gibson Xiaoying Fan Brent B. Wolfe Roland I. Hall |
author_facet |
Nelson A. Zabel Amanda M. Soliguin Johan A. Wiklund S. Jean Birks John J. Gibson Xiaoying Fan Brent B. Wolfe Roland I. Hall |
author_sort |
Nelson A. Zabel |
title |
Paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region before potential onset of industrial development |
title_short |
Paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region before potential onset of industrial development |
title_full |
Paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region before potential onset of industrial development |
title_fullStr |
Paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region before potential onset of industrial development |
title_full_unstemmed |
Paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region before potential onset of industrial development |
title_sort |
paleolimnological assessment of past hydro-ecological variation at a shallow hardwater lake in the athabasca oil sands region before potential onset of industrial development |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100977 https://doaj.org/article/ba1118ae127c4fbb82b5e12a92bf7a7d |
genre |
Lake Athabasca |
genre_facet |
Lake Athabasca |
op_source |
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, Vol 39, Iss , Pp 100977- (2022) |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581821002068 https://doaj.org/toc/2214-5818 2214-5818 doi:10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100977 https://doaj.org/article/ba1118ae127c4fbb82b5e12a92bf7a7d |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100977 |
container_title |
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
container_volume |
39 |
container_start_page |
100977 |
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1766061579487412224 |