title: Arctic vegetation damage by winter-generated coal mining pollution released upon thawing.
abstract: Acid mine drainage (known as AMD) is a well-known environmental problem resulting from the oxidation of sulfidic mine waste. In cold regions, AMD is often considered limited by low temperatures most of the year and observed environmental impact is related to pollution generated during the warm summer period. Here we show that heat generation within an oxidizing, sulfidic, coal-mining waste-rock pile in Svalbard (78 degrees N) is high enough to keep the pile warm (roughly 5 degrees C throughout the year) despite mean annual air temperatures below -5 degrees C. Consequently, weathering processes continue year-round within the waste-rock pile. During the winter, weathering products accumulate within the pile because of a frozen outer layer on the pile and are released as a flush within 2 weeks of soil thawing in the spring. Consequently, spring runoff water contains elevated concentrations of metals. Several of these metals are taken up and accumulated in plants where they reach phytotoxic levels, including aluminum and manganese. Laboratory experiments document that uptake of Al and Mn in native plant species is highly correlated with dissolved concentrations. Therefore, future remedial actions to control the adverse environmental impacts of cold region coal-mining need to pay more attention to winter processes including AMD generation and accumulation of weathering products.
authors: Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. be@geogr.ku.dk
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Elberling
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Søndergaard
authors: Louise A
authors: LA
authors: Jensen
authors: Lea B
authors: LB
authors: Schmidt
authors: Birger U
authors: BU
authors: Hansen
authors: Gert
authors: G
authors: Asmund
authors: Tonci Balić
authors: TB
authors: Zunić
authors: Jørgen
authors: J
authors: Hollesen
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Hanson
authors: Per-Erik
authors: PE
authors: Jansson
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Friborg
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001110:Arctic Regions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008906:Mining; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical