Abstract
We present evidence from studies oflakes in Killarney Park, Ontario, Canada that waterclarity is a key variable for monitoring theeffects of climate change, high UV exposure andacidification. In small oligotrophic lakes, thesestressors affect water clarity primarily byaltering the concentration of DOC in lake water. Clear lakes (<2 mg L-1 DOC) proved to be highlysensitive indicators of stressors, exhibiting largethermal and optical responses to small changes inDOC. Extremely clear (<0.5 mg L-1 DOC) acidic lakesshowed the effects of climate change and solarbleaching in recent decades. These lakes becamemuch clearer even though they were slowlyrecovering from acidification.
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Gunn, J.M., Snucins, E., Yan, N.D. et al. Use of Water Clarity to Monitor the Effects of Climate Change and other Stressors on Oligotrophic Lakes. Environ Monit Assess 67, 69–88 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006435721636
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006435721636