Re: [asa] Hummer vs Prius comparison

http://www.springerlink.com/content/q4w5043208420265/

Abstract A case history is presented describing the ecosystem changes that
accompanied the nearly 90% reduction of SO2 and metal particulate emissions
from Sudbury smelters during the past 25 years. The instances of severe
ground-level fumigations that caused acute damage to vegetation in an area
of approximately 1,000 km2 have been nearly completely eliminated.
Significant improvements in water quality have also many of the estimated
7,000 acid-damaged lakes. Several species of acid-sensitive phytoplankton,
Zooplankton and insects have invaded lakes where improvements have occurred.
Epiphytic lichens have reinvaded the former [image: ldquo]lichen desert[image:
rdquo] that once extended out 7 km from the smelters. Sensitive species such
as *Evernia mesomorpha* and *Usnea hirta* now exist throughout the area. The
vascular plant communities have been relatively slow to recover in the most
severely damaged terrestrial areas. Metal-tolerant grasses (e.g. *Agrostis
scabra. Deschampsia caespitosa*) were the first species to invade the
barrens. Acid- and metal-contamination of soil, severe microclimate
conditions, and the damaging effects of insect pests appear to delay
recovery of terrestrial ecosystems. Recovery rates of aquatic ecosystems are
also affected by a suite of physical, chemical and biotic interactions and
many lakes remain severely damaged.

On 3/18/07, gordon brown <gbrown@colorado.edu> wrote:
>
> On Sun, 18 Mar 2007, PvM wrote:
>
> > Yes, Inco did a lot of probably
> > irreparable damage to the area around Sudbury, Ontario over the many
> > decades, and I will not defend them. The 1,247 foot tall Inco superstack
> > definitely spread acid rain far and wide over eastern Canada for nearly
> two
> > decades. However a major pollution control program was put in place in
> the
> > late 1980s and since 1994, the stack has emitted almost nothing but
> water
> > vapor. Most of the Ontario lakes that were damaged by acid rain in the
> 1970s
> > and 1980s have since recovered and are now doing well. </quote>
>
> Can anyone tell me what the vegetation in the vicinity of Sudbury looks
> like now? I drove through that area in 1979, and I felt as if I had
> suddently been transferred to another planet.
>
> Gordon Brown
> Department of Mathematics
> University of Colorado
> Boulder, CO 80309-0395
>
>
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Received on Sun Mar 18 21:39:39 2007