A survey of lakes in the Republic of Ireland: hydrochemical characteristics and acid sensitivity.
In 1997, as part of a national program to determine and map critical loads, a lake survey was carried out in the Republic of Ireland. In total 200 lakes were sampled, which represents approximately 3.3% of the total lake population. The majority of lakes were situated in remote, high-altitude, acid-sensitive areas along the coastal margins of the country. Lake chemistry was dominated by marine inputs. Approximately 50% of the lakes had DOC > 5 mg L-1 due to the presence of organic soils in a large proportion of the catchments. Nonmarine sulfate concentrations were at background levels (< 20 mu eq L-1) in 50% of the lakes. Exceedance of critical load was observed in 7% of the sampled lakes (13 lakes). However, there are uncertainties in the critical load calculations due to the interference of sea salts and organic acids; accurate estimation under such conditions requires long-term lake and deposition chemistry.
Aherne
Julian
J
University College Dublin, Department of Environmental Resource Management, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. julian.aherne@ucd.ie
Kelly-Quinn
Mary
M
Farrell
Edward P
EP
D015258:Acid Rain; D003625:Data Collection; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007494:Ireland; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014881:Water Supply
D015258:Acid Rain; D013431:Sulfates; D014867:Water; D010100:Oxygen