Arctic Vegetation Damage by Winter-Generated Coal Mining Pollution Released upon Thawing
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- 作者：Bo Elberling ; Jens S
//pubs.acs.org/images/gifchars/oslash.gif" border="0">ndergaard ; Louise A. Jensen ; Lea B. Schmidt ; Birger U. Hansen ; Gert Asmund ; Tonci Bali
- 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
- 出版年：2007
- 出版时间：April 1, 2007
- 年：2007
- 卷：41
- 期：7
- 页码：2407 - 2413
- 全文大小：142K
- 年卷期：v.41,no.7(April 1, 2007)
- ISSN：1520-5851
文摘
Acid mine drainage (known as AMD) is a well-knownenvironmental problem resulting from the oxidation ofsulfidic mine waste. In cold regions, AMD is often consideredlimited by low temperatures most of the year and observedenvironmental impact is related to pollution generatedduring the warm summer period. Here we show that heatgeneration within an oxidizing, sulfidic, coal-mining waste-rock pile in Svalbard (78
N) is high enough to keep the pilewarm (roughly 5 C throughout the year) despite meanannual air temperatures below -5 C. Consequently,weathering processes continue year-round within the waste-rock pile. During the winter, weathering productsaccumulate within the pile because of a frozen outerlayer on the pile and are released as a flush within 2 weeksof soil thawing in the spring. Consequently, spring runoffwater contains elevated concentrations of metals. Severalof these metals are taken up and accumulated in plantswhere they reach phytotoxic levels, including aluminum andmanganese. Laboratory experiments document thatuptake of Al and Mn in native plant species is highlycorrelated with dissolved concentrations. Therefore, futureremedial actions to control the adverse environmentalimpacts of cold region coal-mining need to pay more attentionto winter processes including AMD generation andaccumulation of weathering products.
N) is high enough to keep the pilewarm (roughly 5 C throughout the year) despite meanannual air temperatures below -5 C. Consequently,weathering processes continue year-round within the waste-rock pile. During the winter, weathering productsaccumulate within the pile because of a frozen outerlayer on the pile and are released as a flush within 2 weeksof soil thawing in the spring. Consequently, spring runoffwater contains elevated concentrations of metals. Severalof these metals are taken up and accumulated in plantswhere they reach phytotoxic levels, including aluminum andmanganese. Laboratory experiments document thatuptake of Al and Mn in native plant species is highlycorrelated with dissolved concentrations. Therefore, futureremedial actions to control the adverse environmentalimpacts of cold region coal-mining need to pay more attentionto winter processes including AMD generation andaccumulation of weathering products.