ISSN:
1573-2932
Keywords:
acidification
;
acid episodes
;
critical load
;
mountain
;
streams
;
benthic fauna
;
fish
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract Investigations in the southern part of the Scandinavian mountain range have shown a direct correlation between snowpack pH and the lowest pH in small streams. In streams with catchments 〈100 km2 a snowpack pH below 4.8 resulted in a stream pH below 5.5. As the snowpack pH in the southern mountain range is 4.0–4.6, lower values to the south and at high altitudes, large areas are affected by acid deposition. The acidity of the snowpack is released almost directly into the streams during thaw, due to the large snowpack, rapid thaw, steep terrain and thin soils. The acidification of the snow has lead to an extensive fauna depletion, especially in smaller streams without upstream lakes. The abundance of benthos in acidified streams in the municipality of Härjedalen (11.000 km2) is today only one tenth of the abundance before acidification. Fish populations have declined to the same extent, and several acid-sensitive species have been lost. It is concluded that mountain streams and fauna are extremely sensitive to acidification, and that even large reductions of emissions will be insufficient.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00476865
