Chemical Response of Lakes in the Adirondack Region of New York to Declines in Acidic Deposition

Abstract

Long-term changes in the chemistry of wet deposition and lake water were investigated in the Adirondack Region of New York. Marked decreases in concentrations of SO₄^2- and H⁺ in wet deposition have occurred at two sites since the late 1970s. These decreases are consistent with long-term declines in emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in the eastern United States. Changes in wet NO₃^- deposition and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions have been minor over the same interval. Virtually all Adirondack Lakes have shown marked decreases in concentrations of SO₄^2-, which coincide with decreases in atmospheric S deposition. Concentrations of NO₃^- have also decreased in several Adirondack lakes. As atmospheric N deposition has not changed over this period, the mechanism contributing to this apparent increase in lake/watershed N retention is not evident. Decreases in concentrations of SO₄^2- + NO₃^- have resulted in increases in acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) and pH and resulted in a shift in the speciation of monomeric Al from toxic inorganic species toward less toxic organic forms in some lakes. Nevertheless, many lakes continue to exhibit pH values and concentrations of inorganic monomeric Al that are critical to aquatic biota. Extrapolation of rates of ANC increase suggests that the time frame of chemical recovery of Adirondack Lakes will be several decades if current decreases in acidic deposition are maintained.