scholarly journals Phosphorous Supply to a Eutrophic Artificial Lake: Sedimentary versus Groundwater Sources

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 563
Author(s):  
Wiebe Förster ◽  
Jan C. Scholten ◽  
Michael Schubert ◽  
Kay Knoeller ◽  
Nikolaus Classen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Eutrophic Lake ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Artificial Lake ◽  
Sediment Pore Water ◽  
Mass Balance Models

The eutrophic Lake Eichbaumsee, a ~1 km long and 280 m wide (maximum water depth 16 m) dredging lake southeast of Hamburg (Germany), has been treated for water quality improvements using various techniques (i.e., aeration plants, removal of dissolved phosphorous by aluminum phosphorous precipitation, and by Bentophos® (Phoslock Environmental Technologies, Sydney, Australia), adsorption) during the past ~15 years. Despite these treatments, no long-term improvement of the water quality has been observed and the lake water phosphorous content has continued to increase by e.g., ~670 kg phosphorous between autumn 2014 and autumn 2019. As no creeks or rivers drain into the lake and hydrological groundwater models do not suggest any major groundwater discharge into the lake, sources of phosphorous (and other nutrients) are unknown. We investigated the phosphorous fluxes from sediment pore water and from groundwater in the water body of the lake. Sediment pore water was extracted from sediment cores recovered by divers in August 2018 and February 2019. Diffusive phosphorous fluxes from pore water were calculated based on phosphorus gradients. Stable water isotopes (δ2H, δ18O) were measured in the lake water, in interstitial waters in the banks surrounding the lake, in the Elbe River, and in three groundwater wells close to the lake. Stable isotope (δ2H, δ18O) water mass balance models were used to compute water inflow/outflow to/from the lake. Our results revealed pore-water borne phosphorous fluxes between 0.2 mg/m2/d and 1.9 mg/m2/d. Assuming that the measured phosphorous fluxes are temporarily and spatially representative for the whole lake, about 11 kg/a to 110 kg/a of phosphorous is released from sediments. This amount is lower than the observed lake water phosphorous increase of ~344 kg between April 2018 and November 2018. Water stable isotope (δ2H, δ18O) compositions indicate a water exchange between an aquifer and the lake water. Based on stable isotope mass balances we estimated an inflow of phosphorous from the aquifer to the lake of between ~150 kg/a and ~390 kg/a. This result suggests that groundwater-borne phosphorous is a significant phosphorous source for the Eichbaumsee and highlights the importance of groundwater for lake water phosphorous balances.

Phosphate supply to the eutrophic lake Eichbaumsee (Germany): Sedimentary versus groundwater sources

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Scholten ◽  
Wiebe Förster ◽  
Michael Schubert ◽  
Kay Knöller ◽  
Nikolaus Classen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Eutrophic Lake ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Aluminium Phosphate ◽  
Sediment Pore Water ◽  
Phosphate Fluxes ◽  
Phosphate Supply

<p>The eutrophic lake Eichbaumsee, a ~ 1 km long and 280m wide (maximum water depth 16m) dredging lake southeast of Hamburg (Germany), has been treated for water quality improvements using various techniques (i.e. aeration plants, removal of dissolved phosphate by aluminium phosphate precipitation and by Benthophos adsorption) during the past ~ 15 years. Despite these treatments no long-term improvement of the water quality was observed and the lake water phosphate content continued to increase by e.g. ~ 350 kg phosphate per year between March 2016 and February 2019. As no creeks or rivers drain into the lake and hydrological groundwater models do not suggest any major groundwater discharge into the lake, sources of phosphate (and other nutrients) are unknown.</p><p>We investigated the phosphate fluxes from sediment pore water and groundwater into the water body of the lake. Sediment pore water was extracted from sediment cores recovered by divers in August 2018 and February 2019. Diffusive phosphate fluxes from pore water were calculated based on phosphate gradients using first Fick`s law. Stable water isotopes (δ<sup>2</sup>H, δ<sup>18</sup>O) were measured in the lake water, sediment pore water, interstitial waters in the banks surrounding the lake, the Elbe river and in three groundwater wells close to lake. Stable isotope (δ<sup>2</sup>H, δ<sup>18</sup>O) water mass balance models were used to compute water inflow/outflow to/from the lake.</p><p>Our results revealed pore-water borne phosphate fluxes between – 0.07 mg/m²/d (i.e. slight phosphate uptake by the sediments) and 2.6 mg/m²/d (i.e. phosphate release to the lake). Assuming that the measured phosphate fluxes are temporarily and spatially representative for the whole lake, about 100 kg/a to 220 kg/a of phosphate is released from sediments. This amount is slightly lower than the observed phosphate increase of the lake water. Stable isotope signatures indicate a water exchange between the aquifer and the lake water. Based on stable isotope mass balances (δ<sup>2</sup>H, δ<sup>18</sup>O) we estimate an inflow of phosphate from the aquifer to the lake between 190 kg/a and 1400 kg/a. This inflow indicates that groundwater-born phosphate is as or even more important than phosphate supply via sediment pore-water. Our study suggests that groundwater may have an important impact on lake nutrient budgets.</p>

scholarly journals Application of pore water stable isotope method to characterise a wetland system

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina David ◽  
Wendy Timms ◽  
Cath E. Hughes ◽  
Jagoda Crawford ◽  
Dayna McGeeney
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Ground Movement ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Compression Technique ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
Groundwater Contribution

Abstract. Three naturally intact wetland systems (swamps) were characterized based on sediment cores, analysis of surface water, groundwater and porewater stable isotopes. These swamps are classified as temperate highland peat swamps on sandstone (THPSS) and in Australia they are listed as threatened ecological communities. This study is the first application of the stable isotope direct vapour equilibration method in a wetland, enabling quantification of the contributions of evaporation, rainfall and groundwater to swamp water balance. This technique enables understanding of the depth of evaporative losses and the relative importance of groundwater flow within the swamp environment without the need for intrusive piezometer installation at multiple locations and depths. Additional advantages of the stable isotope direct vapour equilibration technique include detailed spatial and vertical depth profiles of δ18O and δ2H, with good accuracy comparable to the porewater compression technique. Depletion of δ18O and δ2H in porewater with increasing depth (to around 40–60 cm depth) was observed in two swamps, but remained uniform with depth in the third swamp. Within the upper surficial zone, the measurements respond to seasonal trends and are subject to evaporation in the capillary zone. Below this depth the pore water δ18O and δ2H signature approaches that of groundwater indicating lateral groundwater contribution. Significant differences were found in stable pore water isotopes for samples collected after dry weather period compared to wet periods where recharge of depleted rainfall was apparent. The organic rich soil in the upper 40–60 cm retains significant saturation following precipitation events and maintains moisture necessary for ecosystem functioning. An important finding for wetland and ecosystem response to changing groundwater conditions (and potential ground movement) are the observations that basal sands underlay the swamps, allowing relatively rapid drainage at the base of the swamp and interaction with lateral groundwater contribution. Based on the novel stable isotope direct vapour equilibration analysis of swamp sediment, our study identified the following important processes: rapid infiltration of rainfall to the water table with longer retention of moisture in the upper 40–60 cm and lateral groundwater flow contribution at the base. This study also found, that evaporation estimated using stable isotope direct vapour equilibration method is more realistic compared to reference evapotranspiration (ET). Importantly, if swamp discharge data were available in combination with pore water isotope profiles, an appropriate transpiration could be determined for these swamps. Based on the results, the groundwater contribution to the swamp is a significant component of the water balance during dry period. Our methods could complement other monitoring studies and numerical water balance models to improve prediction of the hydrological response of the swamp to changes in water conditions due to natural or anthropogenic influences.

Changes in the composition of phosphorus (P) compound groups in sediment and P in sediment pore water in a shallow eutrophic lake: a 31P NMR study

Limnology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryuichiro Shinohara ◽  
Akio Imai ◽  
Nobuyuki Kawasaki ◽  
Kazuhiro Komatsu ◽  
Ayato Kohzu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
31P Nmr ◽  
Eutrophic Lake ◽  
Sediment Pore Water ◽  
Nmr Study ◽  
Shallow Eutrophic Lake

scholarly journals Lake thermal structure drives inter-annual variability in summer anoxia dynamics in a eutrophic lake over 37 years

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Ladwig ◽  
Paul C. Hanson ◽  
Hilary A. Dugan ◽  
Cayelan C. Carey ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Thermal Stratification ◽  
Heat Budget ◽  
Eutrophic Lake ◽  
Spatial Extent ◽  
Lake Water Quality ◽  
Eutrophic Lakes ◽  
Lake Mendota ◽  
Temporal Extent

Abstract. The concentration of oxygen is fundamental to lake water quality and ecosystem functioning through its control over habitat availability for organisms, redox reactions, and recycling of organic material. In many eutrophic lakes, oxygen depletion in the bottom layer (hypolimnion) occurs annually during summer stratification. The temporal and spatial extent of summer hypolimnetic anoxia is determined by interactions between the lake and its external drivers (e.g., catchment characteristics/nutrient loads, meteorology), as well as internal feedback mechanisms (e.g., organic matter recycling, phytoplankton blooms). How these drivers interact to control the evolution of lake anoxia over decadal time scales will determine, in part, the future lake water quality. In this study, we used a vertical one-dimensional hydrodynamic-ecological model (GLM-AED2) coupled with a calibrated hydrological catchment model (PIHM-Lake) to simulate the thermal and water quality dynamics of the eutrophic Lake Mendota (USA) over a 37-year period. The calibration and validation of the lake model consisted of a global sensitivity evaluation as well as the application of an evolutionary optimization algorithm to improve the fit between observed and simulated data. By quantifying stability indices (Schmidt Stability, Birgean Work, stored internal heat), we identified spring mixing and summer stratification periods, and quantified the energy required for stratification and mixing. To qualify which external and internal factors were most important in driving the inter-annual variation in summer anoxia, we applied a random-forest classifier and multiple linear regression to modeled ecosystem variables (e.g., stratification onset and offset, ice duration, gross primary production.) Lake Mendota exhibited prolonged hypolimnetic anoxia each summer, lasting between 50–60 days. The summer heat budget, as well as the timing of thermal stratification, were the most important predictors of the spatial and temporal extent of summer anoxia periods in Lake Mendota. An earlier onset of thermal stratification in combination with a higher vertical stability strongly affected the duration and spatial extent of summer anoxia. As the heat budget depended primarily on external meteorological conditions, the spatial and temporal extent of summer anoxia in Lake Mendota is likely to increase in the near future as a result of projected climate change in the region.

scholarly journals Lake thermal structure drives interannual variability in summer anoxia dynamics in a eutrophic lake over 37 years

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 1009-1032
Author(s):  
Robert Ladwig ◽  
Paul C. Hanson ◽  
Hilary A. Dugan ◽  
Cayelan C. Carey ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Thermal Stratification ◽  
Heat Budget ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Eutrophic Lake ◽  
Lake Water Quality ◽  
Lake Mendota ◽  
Temporal Extent

Abstract. The concentration of oxygen is fundamental to lake water quality and ecosystem functioning through its control over habitat availability for organisms, redox reactions, and recycling of organic material. In many eutrophic lakes, oxygen depletion in the bottom layer (hypolimnion) occurs annually during summer stratification. The temporal and spatial extent of summer hypolimnetic anoxia is determined by interactions between the lake and its external drivers (e.g., catchment characteristics, nutrient loads, meteorology) as well as internal feedback mechanisms (e.g., organic matter recycling, phytoplankton blooms). How these drivers interact to control the evolution of lake anoxia over decadal timescales will determine, in part, the future lake water quality. In this study, we used a vertical one-dimensional hydrodynamic–ecological model (GLM-AED2) coupled with a calibrated hydrological catchment model (PIHM-Lake) to simulate the thermal and water quality dynamics of the eutrophic Lake Mendota (USA) over a 37 year period. The calibration and validation of the lake model consisted of a global sensitivity evaluation as well as the application of an optimization algorithm to improve the fit between observed and simulated data. We calculated stability indices (Schmidt stability, Birgean work, stored internal heat), identified spring mixing and summer stratification periods, and quantified the energy required for stratification and mixing. To qualify which external and internal factors were most important in driving the interannual variation in summer anoxia, we applied a random-forest classifier and multiple linear regressions to modeled ecosystem variables (e.g., stratification onset and offset, ice duration, gross primary production). Lake Mendota exhibited prolonged hypolimnetic anoxia each summer, lasting between 50–60 d. The summer heat budget, the timing of thermal stratification, and the gross primary production in the epilimnion prior to summer stratification were the most important predictors of the spatial and temporal extent of summer anoxia periods in Lake Mendota. Interannual variability in anoxia was largely driven by physical factors: earlier onset of thermal stratification in combination with a higher vertical stability strongly affected the duration and spatial extent of summer anoxia. A measured step change upward in summer anoxia in 2010 was unexplained by the GLM-AED2 model. Although the cause remains unknown, possible factors include invasion by the predacious zooplankton Bythotrephes longimanus. As the heat budget depended primarily on external meteorological conditions, the spatial and temporal extent of summer anoxia in Lake Mendota is likely to increase in the near future as a result of projected climate change in the region.

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