Dynamic modeling and target loads of sulfur and nitrogen for surface waters in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom

Posch, Maximilian; Aherne, Julian; Moldan, Filip; Evans, Chris D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7052-354X; Forsius, Martin; Larssen, Thorjørn; Helliwell, Rachel; Cosby, B. Jack ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5645-3373. 2019 Dynamic modeling and target loads of sulfur and nitrogen for surface waters in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Environmental Science & Technology, 53 (9). 5062-5070. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b06356

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b06356

Abstract/Summary

The target load concept is an extension of the critical load concept of air pollution inputs to ecosystems. The advantage of target loads over critical loads is that one can define the deposition and the point in time (target year) when the critical (chemical) limit is no longer violated. This information on the timing of recovery requires dynamic modelling. Using a well-documented dynamic model, target loads for acidic deposition were determined for 848 surface waters across Finland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom for the target year 2050. In the majority of sites (n = 675), the critical ANC-limit was predicted to be achieved by 2050; however, for 127 sites target loads were determined. In addition, 46 sites were infeasible, i.e., even a deposition reduction to zero would not achieve the limit by 2050. The average maximum target load for sulphur was 38% lower than the respective critical load across the study lakes (n = 127). Target loads on a large regional scale can inform effects-based emission reduction policies; the current assessment suggests that reductions beyond the Gothenburg Protocol are required to ensure surface water recovery from acidification by 2050.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b06356
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0013-936X
Additional Keywords:	acidification, critical load, recovery, acid neutralising capacity (ANC), Model of Acidification of Groundwaters in Catchments (MAGIC)
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	02 Apr 2019 15:14 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/522764

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b06356

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0013-936X

Additional Keywords:

acidification, critical load, recovery, acid neutralising capacity (ANC), Model of Acidification of Groundwaters in Catchments (MAGIC)

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment