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Spatial characterization of acidification related parameters in sensitive regions of Atlantic Canada

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Abstract

Many lakes in eastern Canada are sensitive to long range transport of atmospheric pollutants because of their low buffering capacity. Thus, it is important to assess long term changes in water quality. Due to the large number of lakes, a method was needed for choosing a subset of lakes to monitor regularly. Preliminary surveys were conducted in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in which water quality parameters connected with acidification were measured in a set of lakes in each region. This paper describes the division of each set of lakes into several groups, with lakes in a group having similar water quality parameter values, by means of cluster analysis and principal component ordination. The characteristics of the groups are shown by graphical procedures and summary statistics, and this characterization is used to both determine the number of groups and describe the final choice. The membership of the groups was subsequently assessed in terms of the influences of terrestrial weathering, marine aerosols, anthropogenically derived mineral acids and natural organic acids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Water Research Institute, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, L7R 4A6, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

    S. R. Esterby & A. H. El-Shaarawi

  2. Water Quality Branch, Atlantic Region, Moncton, New Brunswick

    G. D. Howell & T. A. Clair

Authors
  1. S. R. Esterby
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  2. A. H. El-Shaarawi
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  3. G. D. Howell
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  4. T. A. Clair
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Esterby, S.R., El-Shaarawi, A.H., Howell, G.D. et al. Spatial characterization of acidification related parameters in sensitive regions of Atlantic Canada. Water Air Soil Pollut 46, 289–303 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192864

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192864

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