THE EFFECT OF EL NIÑO-RELATED DROUGHT ON THE RECOVERY OF ACIDIFIED LAKES

Abstract

Although SO2 emissions and deposition rates havedeclined substantially since the implementation of sulphuremission control programmes in North America [1], recovery(measured as decreases in $${\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}^{{\text{2 - }}} $$ concentrations) of affected lakes in central Ontario has been much less substantial thananticipated based on the decrease in deposition. The slowrecovery is attributed to the reoxidation and release of storedsulphur in catchments. Reduced sulphur retained in previousyears when sulphur deposition was higher is exposed to air andoxidized during severe droughts, then exported duringsubsequent wet periods. Elevated stream $${\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}^{{\text{2 - }}} $$ concentrations and export rates occur in the autumns of yearswith prolonged severe droughts, particularly in catchments withextensive wetlands. Drought in our study catchments occurred inyears following strong El Nino events. When the SouthernOscillation Index (SOI) was strongly negative (1976–77, 1982–83,1986–87, 1991–92, 1993–94) the frequency of occurrence ofdrought the following summer in small catchments with shallowoverburden was extremely high. A lake‘s rate of recovery fromacidification depends upon the amount of excess reduced Sthat has been stored in anoxic zones in the catchment (largely afunction of the extent of wetlands) during years of elevated Sdeposition rates, and the frequency and severity of droughts. Iflong-term changes in global or regional climate alter thefrequency or magnitude of El Nino-related droughts, therecovery of acidified lakes will be affected.