Recovery Pattern from Acidification of Headwater Lakes in Finland

Abstract

Acid sensitive headwater lakes (n=163) throughout Finland have been monitored during autumn overturn between 1987–1998. Statistically significant decline in sulphate concentration is detected in 60 to 80 percent of the lakes, depending on the region. Median slope estimates are from −1.1 µeq L−1 in North Finland to −3.3 µeq L−1 in South Finland. The base cation (BC) concentrations are still declining especially in southern Finland (slope −2.5 µeq L−1), where every second lake exhibits a significant downward trend. The BC slope is steeper for lakes with less peatlands, more exposed bedrock, longer retention time and southerly location, but these factors are inter correlated. Gran alkalinity slope medians for the three regions range from 1.4 to 1.8 µeq L−1 yr−1. No significant negative alkalinity trends were detected. The similarity in the slopes of SO4, BC and alkalinity in this data compared to seasonal sampling data from Nordic Countries can be regarded as indirect evidence that autumnal sampling is representative for long term monitoring for these ions. There are no indications of increased organic carbon in lakes, as found in some recent trend analyses of similar regional data sets. Although the processes behind the positive development in these lakes have to be revealed with site- specific intensive studies, this data suggests, that the initial recovery from lake acidification in Finland is a regional phenomenon.