Adaptation and land use planning strategies for black shale areas in a changing climate (SOLMU)

Introduction

In the bedrock and soil of southern Lapland, Kainuu and Oulu region, black shales and other rock and soil types containing sulphur and heavy metals occur naturally. Land use activities, such as forest drainage and infrastructure construction, expose sulphur-containing rocks and soils to oxygen or surface water, this can lead to acidification, and dissolution and transport of harmful metals into waterways. Climate change increases these land use risks, as warming, higher precipitation and extreme weather events accelerate black shale-related acidification and the mobilization of harmful substances.

The SOLMU project focuses on site-specific identification of black shale occurrences and determining their contaminant concentrations and acid production capacity in rock, soil and surface waters. In addition, the impact of contaminant sources originating from black shales on river and stream sediments, as well as the leaching losses of suspended solids, nutrients and heavy metals from newly restored peatland forests and their retention capacity of constructed wetlands, will be assessed. The six study areas (Kainuu, Lapland and Northern Ostrobothnia) represent different land use types and varying bedrock and soil conditions.

As a result, the project will create a comprehensive risk management model and develop guidelines to help land use planners and operators identify black shales and their environmental impacts and manage the risks arising from black shales in a changing climate.

Partners: University of Oulu and Natural Resources Institute Finland

The coordinator of the project: GTK

Funding authority: Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment / North Ostrobothnia

Contact person: Pauliina Liwata-Kenttälä

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