Interaction of Climate Change and Acid Deposition

Both climate change and acidification ultimately involve chemical changes in the atmosphere. Not surprisingly, the two are strongly linked. Particular focus here is on the effects of short- and long-term changes in climate on the recovery of aquatic ecosystems from damage caused by acid deposition for there is concern that climate change may delay recovery of acidified aquatic ecosystems. Data come from acid-impacted areas of Europe as well as eastern North America and involve large-scale experiments with altered climate conducted in small catchments and lakes. Long-term datasets (30+ years) from key sites have also been analysed to link variations in acid deposition and climate on water chemistry and biology, over both long and short periods. Together the experimental and empirical data have been used to develop, modify, and calibrate statistical and process-orientated models. These models have then provided tools to predict ecosystem changes given future scenarios of acid deposition and climate