Search the EPA Research Database

Project title

Assessing the influence of trans-boundary air pollution on Irish lakes and soils

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Trent University

Lead Applicant

Julian Aherne

Project Abstract

Ireland is uniquely situated on the western periphery of Europe and considered to experience limited exposure to trans-boundary air pollution due to the predominantly westerly airflow. Nonetheless high elevation lakes and their catchment soils are threatened by atmospheric deposition of pollutants (acidity and toxic air pollutants). These remote lakes are especially sensitive to acidification owing to the poor buffering capacities of soil and rocks in their catchments.Because of their sensitivity, these lakes are excellent sensors of change; however, few studies have been carried out on remote Irish lakes. During 1997, the EPA funded a baseline hydrochemical survey of 200 acid sensitive lakes. This provides a unique database to assess the impacts of environmental change during the past decade, a period that has experienced the largest reduction of sulphur emissions across Europe.The proposed research seeks to re-visit the 1997 lakes, and further sample sensitive mountain-soils including a sub-set from the lake catchments. The principal objectives of the research are to quantify the changes in lake chemistry since 1997; to quantify additional pollutant (heavy metals, trace organics) levels; to continue the development of a high quality environmental database on remote Irish lakes and soils, and to disseminate the results widely.

Grant Approved

�383,620.00

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

Trans-Boundary Air Pollution/Short Life Climate Forcers

Start Date

01/01/2008

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/01/2011