5.7.3.3.2. Acidification
Acidification of streams and recovery of acidified lakes would be altered by
climate changes (Yan et al., 1996; Magnuson et al., 1997; Dillon et al., 2001).
In addition to direct atmospheric deposition of acids, sulfates deposited in
the catchment are transported to streams during storm events as pulses of acidity.
Lakes would receive less buffering materials in dryer climates and more in wetter
climates. Lakes high in the landscape that receive less groundwater in dry years
would be more vulnerable to acidification (Webster et al., 1996).
5.7.3.3.3. Toxics
Climate change would interact with biogeochemical transport and transformation
of toxics such as mercury, zinc, and pesticides (see brief reviews in Magnuson
et al., 1997; Schindler, 1997; and related physiological understanding in Wood
and McDonald, 1997). The expected influences are poorly known as well as complex
and variable, depending on the toxin, the organism, and the climate scenario.
Enough is known to say that toxic stresses are not independent of climate change.
5.7.3.4. Other
5.7.3.4.1. Recreation
Winter recreational opportunities would decline with warmer climates. Declines
in safe ice conditions would reduce all ice-related activities such as ice fishing,
ice skating, ice boating, and snowmobiling on lakes and rivers. Recreational
uses of lakes that become more eutrophic are likely to be degraded by lower
water clarity and increased blooms of noxious blue-green algae. Nonmarket values
for water-based recreation are in direct conflict with greater direct uses of
that water and a warmer and drier climate. These values ranged from $3-65
per thousand m3 of water for fishing, rafting, and river recreation
in general in Colorado (Postel and Carpenter, 1997).
UV-B radiation can be harmful to freshwater organisms (Bothwell et al., 1994;
Williamson and Zagarese, 1994; Williamson et al., 1996). Absorption of UV-B
is lower in clearwater lakes. Reduction of colored DOC entering lakes during
drier conditions results in greater transmission and thus greater harm to organisms
(Schindler et al., 1996a; Yan et al., 1996; Schindler, 1997; Williamson et al.,
1996).
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