Rapid response of stream dissolved phosphorus concentrations to wildfire smoke

Abstract

Wildfires can produce large plumes of smoke that are transported across vast distances, altering nutrient cycling of undisturbed watersheds exposed downwind. To date, wildfire smoke influence on stream biogeochemical signatures remains an important knowledge gap. Here we evaluate the impacts of wildfire smoke on phosphorus (P) biogeochemical cycling in a temperate watershed in the Finger Lakes Region of Central New York located downwind from record setting Canadian forest fires during the summer of 2023. Daily sampling of stream and rainwaters was conducted over the 2 month smoke period, generating a robust geochemical dataset. Stream dissolved P showed high sensitivity to smoke events, attaining concentrations 2–3 × greater than the pre-smoke period. Subsequent rain events after smoke deposition were identified as a potentially important factor in magnitude and timing of dissolved P responses. These findings demonstrate the capacity for wildfire smoke to trigger rapid, observable changes to stream P chemistry.