Potential effects of anthropogenic induced sulphates (SO4) contaminating karst ecosystems
Potential effects of anthropogenic induced sulphates (SO4) contaminating karst ecosystems contributing to oceanic decline globally Mike Buchanan, Karstologist 2024 Increases in undesirable Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), associated with elevated sulphates (SO 4 ) emanating from coal, heavy metals mining around the globe, are being allowed to escape into all globally important oceans. In most cases, AMD emanates via contaminated, resurgent groundwater ecosystems within carbonate karst hydrodynamic systems adjunct to catchment, or on the contact of heavy metal rich geology. AMD ultimately lands up flowing into terrestrial fluvial transport systems via subterranean hydrogeology enroute to oceans around the globe. Increasing SO 4 concentrations in freshwater systems influence the biogeochemical processes of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Karst groundwater systems are unique carbonate based fragile ecosystems that cover around 20-25% of the Earth's surface. They are formed from sol...