Our recent discussion about acid rain in class sparked my
curiosity as to whether or not there are any actions humans can take to counteract the effects acid rain has on lakes, streams, and ponds. I also vaguely remembered
that last weekend, Mr. Litchfield mentioned how he “limed” his
lake to protect and preserve its ecosystem. As I had never heard about this process, I did some research and found that “liming” is the addition of limestone
(calcite), primarily calcium carbonate (CaCO3), to neutralize acidic bodies of
waters and buffer them from drastic fluctuations in pH.
This extremely cost effective method works by slowing the
effects of acidification, by restoring acidic waters, and enhancing the
abundance and diversity of aquatic life. Moreover, it reduces the hazardous effects of
metals, including aluminum, copper, cadmium, lead, nickel, and zinc, which can
threaten fish, other aquatic life, and human health. As we mentioned in class, acid rain strips bodies of water of calcium, which inhibits organisms' ability to build their outer protective shells. Liming solves
this issue. The calcium in lime dissolves in water, and is then absorbed by organisms. Not only is the calcium used
by organisms, such as mussels and crayfish, to develop their protective shells,
but the calcium is also used by young and adult fish for scale formation, bone
development, and growth.
Although there are questions to how sustainable this method
will be in the future, as the effects of acid rain may intensify with our continued fossil fuel use, liming serves as an interim solution. For now, liming enables bodies of water to
maintain their important ecological, economic, and recreational values.
The
link below demonstrates how the process of liming is implementing. Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKVIJSHbVN0.
Source: (http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-254/420-254.html)
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