ERSC 2240H Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Denitrification, Ion
26 Dec 2015
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Document Summary
We need to use models to extrapolate data and make inferences and estimates on what could happen in order to develop an action plan to avoid any negative environmental impacts. D: critical load: the amount of pollution that an ecosystem can take without having any adverse effects. Depending on the buffering system, an ecosystem can have a high or low critical load. Critical alkalinity leaching [how acidic do we want our system to be] Nitrogen immobilization, uptake and denitrification further consideration under the neg-ecp protocol. Critical load exceedance was produced for upland forest soils across canada. Estimates of each individual process is uncertain (figure 1) Models are calibrated to match the observed data using combinations of each process. Judgment call - stakeholders - determine the critical limit that is acceptable. Tool for estimating the potential for adverse effects that could arise from the presence of contamination at a site. Level that can be tolerated by majority of benthic organisms.
