Afforestation and lake acidification: a comparison of four sites in Scotland

Abstract

Abstract Palaeolimnological techniques including diatom analysis were used to examine the acidification and atmospheric contamination histories of four lakes in Scotland. Results from an afforested and a moorland (control) site in a region of high acid deposition are compared with results from two similar sites in an area receiving lower acid deposition levels. Results show that afforestation of a catchment in the higher acid deposition area has increased the rate of lake acidification. There is no evidence for acidification as a result of forest growth alone in the area of lower acid deposition.