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The Aquatic Acidification Index: A New Regulatory Metric Linking Atmospheric and Biogeochemical Models to Assess Potential Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery

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Abstract

US National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are based on quantitative linkages between ambient air concentrations and an effects indicator. Critical loads (CLs) can provide quantitative information on safe levels of atmospheric deposition to aquatic systems, but CLs cannot be directly used in the NAAQS context because they are not expressed in terms of atmospheric concentrations. Here, we describe the aquatic acidification index (AAI) model that incorporates CL concepts and relates atmospheric nitrogen and sulfur concentrations to an acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) effects indicator (Fig. 1). The AAI estimates the potential surface water ANC associated with a set of atmospheric concentrations of nitrogen and sulfur and a region's biogeochemical and hydrological attributes by combining steady-state CL modeling with air quality modeling outputs. Initial applications of the AAI model yielded results consistent with well-recognized spatial patterns of acid-sensitive aquatic systems. Furthermore, the response of AAI predictions to future year changes in NO x and SO x emissions suggest that planned national emission reduction strategies designed to reduce ozone and particulate matter air pollution will produce increases in surface water ANC.

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Acknowledgments

Parts of this work were included in the US EPA's science, risk, and policy assessments in support of the review for the oxides of nitrogen and sulfur secondary standard. We appreciate the support of a very broad team of EPA and external scientists that participated in that effort. Karen Martin provided key support in the policy–science interface aspects of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA

    Richard D. Scheffe, Adam Reff, James T. Kelly, Bryan Hubbell, Tara L. Greaver & J. Travis Smith

  2. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 20460, USA

    Jason A. Lynch

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  1. Richard D. Scheffe
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  2. Jason A. Lynch
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  3. Adam Reff
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  4. James T. Kelly
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  7. J. Travis Smith
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Correspondence to Richard D. Scheffe.

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Scheffe, R.D., Lynch, J.A., Reff, A. et al. The Aquatic Acidification Index: A New Regulatory Metric Linking Atmospheric and Biogeochemical Models to Assess Potential Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery. Water Air Soil Pollut 225, 1838 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1838-0

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