The Acid Rain Program Part 1: Lake Acidity in the Adirondacks

Abstract

Detrended correlation analysis in the sample period 1992-2015 shows that on an annual time scale the acidity of rain in NY is responsive to the combined anthropogenic SO2 emissions in EPA Regions 1, 2, and 3; but that the acidity of lakes in the Adirondacks is not responsive to the acidity of rain in NY. An attempt to explain lake acidity in terms of dry deposition of anthropogenic SO2 emissions also failed. Our results are consistent with previous research which found no relationship between rain acidity and lake acidity and explained lake acidity in terms of soil chemistry in the catchment area of the lakes.

Keywords: Sulfur Dioxide, SO2, Acid Rain, Air Pollution Emissions Trading, Pollution Abatement, Clean Air Act, Cap and Trade