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Transitioning from anthropogenic to natural acidification in a humic catchment in Norway: projections of deposition and climate change effects
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  • Heleen A de Wit,
  • Francois Clayer,
  • Øyvind Kaste,
  • Magnus Norling
Heleen A de Wit
Norwegian Institute for Water Research

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Francois Clayer
Norwegian Institute for Water Research
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Øyvind Kaste
Norwegian Institute for Water Research
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Magnus Norling
Norwegian Institute for Water Research
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Abstract

Five decades of monitoring data (1974-2022) at the acidified, acid-sensitive forested catchment of Langtjern in southern Norway document strong chemical recovery and browning of surface water, related to changes in sulfur (S) deposition. We used the process-oriented model MAGIC to simulate water chemistry from 1860 to 2100 using historical and projected deposition and climate. New in MAGIC is i) a solubility control of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from S deposition, which allows inclusion of the changing role of organic acids in chemical recovery, and ii) climate-dependency of weathering rates. MAGIC successfully described measured chemical recovery and browning, and the change towards organic acid dominated acidification status. Hindcasts of pH suggested lower preindustrial pH than previously modelled with MAGIC, simulated without sulfate-dependency of DOC solubility. Climate scenarios indicated substantially wetter climate, leading to increased base cation losses and slight reacidification of the surface waters. A sensitivity analysis of weathering rates revealed that a doubling of weathering rates is needed to reach pre-industrial ANC in 2100, given that S deposition is expected to be reduced to a minimum. We conclude that impacts of climate change are most likely to lead to slight reacidification of surface waters, and that enhanced weathering rates could partly compensate this trend.
29 Sep 2023Submitted to Ecological Research
05 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
05 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
05 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 Apr 20241st Revision Received
16 Apr 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 May 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
23 Jul 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
08 Aug 20242nd Revision Received
10 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
10 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
10 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Accept