Chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest Saskatchewan
Boreal ecosystems in northwest Saskatchewan may be threatened by acidification as this area is downwind of atmospheric emissions sources from regional oil sands mining operations. To evaluate the status of lakes in this region, a survey of 259 headwater lakes was conducted during 2007–2008 within ~3...
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fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:dafccc6e1cef4967b56cdcb98d6a03b3 2023-05-15T15:55:11+02:00 Chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest Saskatchewan Jean S. BIRKS Kenneth A. SCOTT John J. GIBSON Björn WISSEL 2010-08-01 https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2010.s1.33 https://doaj.org/article/dafccc6e1cef4967b56cdcb98d6a03b3 en eng PAGEPress Publications doi:10.4081/jlimnol.2010.s1.33 1129-5767 1723-8633 https://doaj.org/article/dafccc6e1cef4967b56cdcb98d6a03b3 undefined Journal of Limnology, Vol 69, Iss 1s, Pp 33-44 (2010) acidification lake chemistry land cover critical load SSWC model Canada envir geo Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2010 fttriple https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2010.s1.33 2023-01-22T19:24:10Z Boreal ecosystems in northwest Saskatchewan may be threatened by acidification as this area is downwind of atmospheric emissions sources from regional oil sands mining operations. To evaluate the status of lakes in this region, a survey of 259 headwater lakes was conducted during 2007–2008 within ~300 km of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Acid sensitivity by ecoregion increased from Mid-Boreal Upland to Churchill River Upland to Athabasca Plain, with 60% of lakes classified as sensitive (50–200 μeq L–1 acid neutralizing capacity (ANC)), and 8% as very sensitive (<50 μeq L–1 ANC) to acid deposition. Organic anions dominated the acidity balance in most lakes, but non-marine sulphate varied positively with lake elevation and % upland cover (r2 = 0.24). Base cation concentrations (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were correlated with % deciduous forest in the catchment area (r2 = 0.33), while dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was related most strongly to % bog and lake flushing variables (r2 = 0.53). Variation in runoff coefficients derived by isotope mass balance corresponded with catchment area attributes that proxy controls on evaporation, infiltration and storage, and showed some ecoregional differences. The findings have implications for assignment of runoff values required to calculate critical loads of acidity. Although acidification appears not to be significantly advanced, many dilute oligotrophic lakes with pH 6.0 to pH 6.5 are vulnerable to acid deposition. Article in Journal/Newspaper Churchill River Fort McMurray Unknown Canada Fort McMurray Journal of Limnology 69 1s 33 |
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language |
English |
topic |
acidification lake chemistry land cover critical load SSWC model Canada envir geo |
spellingShingle |
acidification lake chemistry land cover critical load SSWC model Canada envir geo Jean S. BIRKS Kenneth A. SCOTT John J. GIBSON Björn WISSEL Chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest Saskatchewan |
topic_facet |
acidification lake chemistry land cover critical load SSWC model Canada envir geo |
description |
Boreal ecosystems in northwest Saskatchewan may be threatened by acidification as this area is downwind of atmospheric emissions sources from regional oil sands mining operations. To evaluate the status of lakes in this region, a survey of 259 headwater lakes was conducted during 2007–2008 within ~300 km of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Acid sensitivity by ecoregion increased from Mid-Boreal Upland to Churchill River Upland to Athabasca Plain, with 60% of lakes classified as sensitive (50–200 μeq L–1 acid neutralizing capacity (ANC)), and 8% as very sensitive (<50 μeq L–1 ANC) to acid deposition. Organic anions dominated the acidity balance in most lakes, but non-marine sulphate varied positively with lake elevation and % upland cover (r2 = 0.24). Base cation concentrations (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were correlated with % deciduous forest in the catchment area (r2 = 0.33), while dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was related most strongly to % bog and lake flushing variables (r2 = 0.53). Variation in runoff coefficients derived by isotope mass balance corresponded with catchment area attributes that proxy controls on evaporation, infiltration and storage, and showed some ecoregional differences. The findings have implications for assignment of runoff values required to calculate critical loads of acidity. Although acidification appears not to be significantly advanced, many dilute oligotrophic lakes with pH 6.0 to pH 6.5 are vulnerable to acid deposition. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jean S. BIRKS Kenneth A. SCOTT John J. GIBSON Björn WISSEL |
author_facet |
Jean S. BIRKS Kenneth A. SCOTT John J. GIBSON Björn WISSEL |
author_sort |
Jean S. BIRKS |
title |
Chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest Saskatchewan |
title_short |
Chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest Saskatchewan |
title_full |
Chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest Saskatchewan |
title_fullStr |
Chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest Saskatchewan |
title_full_unstemmed |
Chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest Saskatchewan |
title_sort |
chemical characteristics and acid sensitivity of boreal headwater lakes in northwest saskatchewan |
publisher |
PAGEPress Publications |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2010.s1.33 https://doaj.org/article/dafccc6e1cef4967b56cdcb98d6a03b3 |
geographic |
Canada Fort McMurray |
geographic_facet |
Canada Fort McMurray |
genre |
Churchill River Fort McMurray |
genre_facet |
Churchill River Fort McMurray |
op_source |
Journal of Limnology, Vol 69, Iss 1s, Pp 33-44 (2010) |
op_relation |
doi:10.4081/jlimnol.2010.s1.33 1129-5767 1723-8633 https://doaj.org/article/dafccc6e1cef4967b56cdcb98d6a03b3 |
op_rights |
undefined |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2010.s1.33 |
container_title |
Journal of Limnology |
container_volume |
69 |
container_issue |
1s |
container_start_page |
33 |
_version_ |
1766390518592307200 |