Long-term changes of lake -watershed systems in the Šumava, Jizera, and Tatra Mountains affected by acid atmospheric deposition

Abstract

Conclusions and perspectives Surface waters in many areas of Europe with sensitive geology suffered severe anthropogenic acidification during the last century, among them also water ecosystems in remote mountain areas, which are extremely sensitive to global changes. The lake district of the Tatra Mountains on the Slovak-Polish border, as well as lakes in the Šumava Mountains and reservoirs in the Jizera Mountains (Bohemia, Czech Republic), were strongly acidified. The reasons for acidification were elevated sulphur and nitrogen emissions, transported long distances in the atmosphere. The contribution of nitrogen to acidification was always very high (up to 40%) on the territory of the Czech and Slovak Republics, compared to other acidification areas within Europe. However, the size and character of a watershed (namely the geology and vegetation cover) and forest management in the watersheds were important factors influencing the sensitivity of waters to acidification, the extent of damage, and the dynamics of the acid-driven processes. The man-made acidification may be combined with a natural acidity (dystrophy) in some waters, caused by a high amount of organic acids. Acidification led to a change in the water chemistry (a decrease in pH and alkalinity, and an increase in concentrations of sulphate and...

Conclusions and perspectives Surface waters in many areas of Europe with sensitive geology suffered severe anthropogenic acidification during the last century, among them also water ecosystems in remote mountain areas, which are extremely sensitive to global changes. The lake district of the Tatra Mountains on the Slovak-Polish border, as well as lakes in the Šumava Mountains and reservoirs in the Jizera Mountains (Bohemia, Czech Republic), were strongly acidified. The reasons for acidification were elevated sulphur and nitrogen emissions, transported long distances in the atmosphere. The contribution of nitrogen to acidification was always very high (up to 40%) on the territory of the Czech and Slovak Republics, compared to other acidification areas within Europe. However, the size and character of a watershed (namely the geology and vegetation cover) and forest management in the watersheds were important factors influencing the sensitivity of waters to acidification, the extent of damage, and the dynamics of the acid-driven processes. The man-made acidification may be combined with a natural acidity (dystrophy) in some waters, caused by a high amount of organic acids. Acidification led to a change in the water chemistry (a decrease in pH and alkalinity, and an increase in concentrations of sulphate and...