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- Title
Acidification Of Northeastern USA Lakes From Rising Anthropogenic‐Sourced Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Its Effects on Aluminum Speciation.
- Authors
Johannesson, Karen H.; Horne, Jaxon Dii; Misra, Anant; Aliperta, Catherine; Meletis, Orpheus V.; Santore, Robert C.; White, Christopher D.; Mavrommati, Georgia; Burdige, David J.
- Abstract
The impact of rising atmospheric CO2 (pCO2atm) from anthropogenic activities on pH, dissolved inorganic carbon, carbonate mineral saturation, and aluminum (Al) speciation is evaluated for 18 northeastern USA lakes using polythermal, sliding activity reaction path models. pCO2atm was forced using two scenarios from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report in which pCO2atm attains either 600 or 1,100 ppm in 2,100. Results suggest pH will decrease 0.15 and 0.32 pH units, aCO32− ${a}_{\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}^{2-}}$ will decrease 24% and 49%, and Ωaragonite will decrease 21% and 45%, respectively. These changes are of the same magnitude as those expected for the oceans. The effects of rising pCO2atm on sub‐lethal 20% effect concentrations (i.e., EC20) of Al for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are evaluated with the biotic ligand model, which indicates Al toxicity effects will increase as pH decreases. These changes could reverse gains in water quality and fisheries health achieved since implementation of the Clean Air Act. Plain Language Summary: Fossil fuel consumption, deforestation, and changing land use are all contributing to rising CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. In addition to atmospheric warming and climate impacts, rising atmospheric CO2 will also promote acidification of ocean surface waters, which is expected to have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems. Much less is known about how rising atmospheric CO2 will impact terrestrial freshwaters such as lakes and streams. We developed reaction path models for 18 lakes from northeastern USA to investigate possible impacts of rising atmospheric CO2 and temperature on these systems. The models indicate that acidification of these lakes could be of similar magnitude to ocean acidification. The saturation state of these lakes with respect to the mineral aragonite, which is important for calcifying organisms, will also decrease. Finally, acidification will alter aluminum (Al) speciation, which could augment toxic effects from this metal on important sport fish like brook trout, possibly reversing gains made in water quality since implementation of the Clean Air Act decreased the input of strong acids via acid rain. Key Points: Rising atmospheric CO2 from anthropogenic activities will lead to acidification of lakes in the northeastern USA during the 21st centuryAcidification will alter Al speciation and lower concentrations required to cause a sub‐lethal response in 20% of the resident brook troutAnthropogenic‐sourced CO2 could reverse gains in lake water quality realized since implementation of the Clean Air Act
- Subjects
INTERGOVERNMENTAL Panel on Climate Change; CHEMICAL speciation; OCEAN acidification; GLOBAL warming; BROOK trout; POISONS; ATMOSPHERIC carbon dioxide; ACID rain
- Publication
Geophysical Research Letters, 2023, Vol 50, Issue 22, p1
- ISSN
0094-8276
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2023GL104957