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Assessment of water quality in the vicinity of peat extraction sites: The case of Pien‐Saimaa, Finland
Author(s) -
Sääksjärvi Eija,
Reinikainen SatuPia,
LouhiKultanen Marjatta
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/wej.12168
Subject(s) - peat , eutrophication , environmental science , bog , water quality , pollution , leaching (pedology) , hydrology (agriculture) , water table , environmental chemistry , environmental engineering , nutrient , groundwater , ecology , soil science , chemistry , soil water , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering
Abstract Peatlands have an important global role as carbon sinks. Locally, however, peat bog extraction can cause pollution in nearby watercourses. The aim of this study is to investigate the application of multivariate methods in the renovation and protection of eutrophic lakes surrounded by agricultural and peat extraction areas. The analytical data used in the study originated from a national water quality database and the period studied was 2000–2013. Multivariate methods: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) were applied to solve interactions of variables and pollution sources in a complex water ecosystem. Leaching from the peat bog area was found to be the main source of iron, which has an important role as a precipitator of phosphorus in loose sediment and in water. Nutrient ratios had no direct correlation to algae blooms, but high ratios indicated an increased likelihood of an upcoming bloom.