Complex Relationship Between Phosphorous Levels, Nitrogen Removal In Lakes

Complex Relationship Between Phosphorous Levels, Nitrogen Removal In Lakes

Chapter 3

Issue: Local

Summary: In the land of 10,000 lakes, Lake Superior has become a focus of Minnesota researches studying long term impacts of global pollution. It has become evident that Lake Superior possesses a very high quantity of nitrogen in its waters. Though the nitrogen cleanup measures have been nothing but effective, scientists fear that it may also be harming the natural microbial processes that remove the nitrogen as well. Since large lakes and freshwater ecosystems are an environmental sink for nitrogen and many processes in the lake revolve around nitrogen concentrations, by helping to remove it we may harm the natural methods that the lake uses to get rid of nitrogen. The scientists believe that the main problem is stemming from the nitrogen that is entering the lake by human pollution. The phosphorous content in the water is not the problem, it is the excess nitrogen that is impacting the circulation of nutrients and chemicals in the ecosystem.

Opinion: I agree with the scientist Jacques Finlay who suggested that our main focus should be to pay attention to how the pollution is harming the environment and to find a way to stop it. By artificially trying to remove the nitrogen, we may also be harming the ecosystem and unintentionally removing the already-low phosphorous content in the lake. By stopping the problem before it gets any worse and then letting the ecosystem fix itself we can ensure that everything will return to normal.

Definition:

Reactive Nitrogen- "A term used for a variety of nitrogen compounds that support growth directly or indirectly. Representative species include the gases nitrogen oxides (NO_x), ammonia (NH₃), nitrous oxide (N₂O), as well as the anion nitrate (NO₃^-). Most of these species are the result of agricultural activities, especially the (mis)use of fertilizers. Although required for life, nitrogen is stored in the biosphere in an unreactive ("unfixed") form N₂, which supports on a few life forms. Reactive nitrogen is however "fixed" and is readily converted into protein, which supports life, leading to depletion of oxygen in fresh waters by eutrophication."