Developing Critical Loads and Dynamic Critical Loads for Acidification for Watersheds in the Adirondack region of New York and Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GRSM)

Author

Qingtao Zhou, Syracuse University

Date of Award

December 2014

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Advisor(s)

Charles T. Driscoll

Keywords

acidification, Adirondacks, Critical Loads, Dynamic Critical Loads, Great Smoky Mountain, Sulfate and nitrate

Subject Categories

Engineering

Abstract

Critical loads (CLs) and dynamic critical loads (DCLs) are important tools for the management of ecosystems that are impacted by high sulfate, nitrate and ammonium deposition. In this study, a biogeochemical model (PnET-BGC) was applied to 20 watersheds in the Adirondack region and 12 watersheds in Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GRSM) to calculate CLs and DCLs. I evaluated ecosystem changes in response to historical and potential future changes in acidic deposition. I analyzed factors affecting CLs and DCLs for acidification in the acid impacted Constable Pond Watershed in the Adirondack region, specifically evaluating trade-offs of sulfate and nitrate deposition, supply of dissolved organic carbon, land disturbance and lake hydrological residence time. I also calculated CLs and DCLs for 20 watersheds in the Adirondack Region. Based on chemical indicators (acid neutralizing capacity-ANC and soil base saturation) and biological indicators (fish and total zooplankton species richness). I defined two metrics - historical acidification and maximum recovery based on changes in ANC. I explored the factors affecting historical acidification and maximum recovery. I determined the conditions where acidified lakes can recover and the long-term sustained deposition loads that would be required to achieve such recovery and identified the types of watersheds for which recovery is unlikely, regardless of the emission reductions. I also projected the response of aquatic species (fish and total zooplankton species richness) to historical and potential future changes in acidic deposition. Using methods similar to those developed for the Adirondack region, I also applied PnET-BGC to the GRSM region to obtain CLs and DCLs and evaluated how watershed-ecosystems changed in response to historical and future decreases in NO₃-, SO₄2- and NH₄+ deposition.

Results from Constable Pond watershed showed that ANC increased more in response to equivalent decreases in SO₄2- deposition than NO₃- deposition. Moreover, DOC in the surface water, lake hydrological residence time and forest cutting disturbance had substantial effects on historical acidification and the recovery of lake ANC.

Results from lakes of the Adirondack region also showed that future increases in ANC will be accomplished more effectively in response to further decreases in SO₄2- deposition than in NO₃- deposition. Historical acidification was related to the current deposition of SO₄2-+NO₃-, Ca2+ weathering rate, and pre-industrial ANC (~1850). Lake recovery was likewise related with the current deposition of SO₄2-+NO₃-, Ca2+ weathering rate and current ANC. Fish and total zooplankton species richness are projected to increase under decreases in SO₄2- or NO₃- deposition. However, complete chemical and biological recovery will not be attainable by 2200 even under decreases in atmospheric deposition to pre-industrial conditions.

Results from the GRSM showed that ANC in the future will also increase in response to decreases in acidic deposition. However, ANC increases will be accomplished more effectively with decreases in NO₃- than in SO₄2- deposition. This difference in response is due to the strong retention of SO₄2- by soil adsorption in this unglaciated landscape, coupled with the limited watershed retention of atmospheric N deposition. Historical acidification and maximum recovery were also related to Ca2+ weathering rate and pre-industrial ANC. Some watersheds are projected to achieve target ANC in the future under different DCLs for SO₄2-+NO₃- deposition. Other GRSM watersheds will not be able to achieve target ANC in the future due to sensitive soil conditions and are experiencing watershed N saturation

Access

Open Access

Recommended Citation

Zhou, Qingtao, "Developing Critical Loads and Dynamic Critical Loads for Acidification for Watersheds in the Adirondack region of New York and Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GRSM)" (2014). Dissertations - ALL. 174.
https://surface.syr.edu/etd/174