Lake Acidification Model: Practical Tool

A two‐layer time‐variable model is developed to quantify seasonal variations of pH and alkalinity levels in acidic lakes. The model incorporates the ${\mathrm{CO}}_2/{\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}/{\mathrm{CO}}_3^{=}$ equilibria with internal sources and sinks of alkalinity and acidity in the water column. External alkalinity and ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ acidity loadings are also incorporated. The modeling framework is applied to the Bickford Reservoir in Massachusetts and to Woods Lake and Panther Lake in Adirondack Park, New York. In general, in‐lake alkalinity generation by reduction processes in the Bickford Reservoir during the summer months is simulated by the model. The observed response to snowpack release in Woods Lake and Panther Lake during the spring months is also reproduced by the model. All three model applications are efficiently run on a personal computer system.