Variations in the radiothermal radiation of the ice cover of Lake Arakhley as a geo-indicator of deformation and cracking

In January-March, 2020-2021, radiophysical studies were conducted of radiothermal radiation intensity for the testing site for Lake Arakhley, Transbaikalia, Russia. The set of equipment consisting of four microwave radiometers for the wavelengths from 0.3 to 2 cm was placed on the shore of the lake mounted on a stationary platform. The temperature and deformation of ice were simultaneously measured at the depth of 0.4 meters in two orthogonal directions: west-east and north-south. The temperature was measured with heat gauges in a vertical profile at the depths of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 cm. In the process of contact measurements in the period of cracking, signal impulses were recorded in the channel of the deformation sensor placed in the direction of the lake center (west-east). The measurement results were used in monitoring of the condition of the water body. It turned out that in the periods of registering the deformation impulses, changes in the radio brightness temperature and decrease in the ice temperature were observed. The microwave characteristics correlate with the temperature and deformation of the ice cover and may serve as an indicator of the meteorological conditions of the region.

Effects of Water Level Decline in Lake Urmia, Iran, on Local Climate Conditions

Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran is the largest lake in Iran and the second largest saltwater lake in the world. The water level in Lake Urmia has decreased dramatically in recent years, due to drought, climate change, and the overuse of water resources for irrigation. This shrinking of the lake may affect local climate conditions, assuming that the lake itself affects the local climate. In this study, we quantified the lake’s impact on the local climate by analyzing hourly time series of data on climate variables (temperature, vapor pressure, relative humidity, evaporation, and dewpoint temperature for all seasons, and local lake/land breezes in summer) for the period 1961–2016. For this, we compared high quality, long-term climate data obtained from Urmia and Saqez meteorological stations, located 30 km and 185 km from the lake center, respectively. We then investigated the effect of lake level decrease on the climate variables by dividing the data into periods 1961–1995 (normal lake level) and 1996–2016 (low lake level). The results showed that at Urmia station (close to the lake), climate parameters displayed fewer fluctuations and were evidently affected by Lake Urmia compared with those at Saqez station. The effects of the lake on the local climate increased with increasing temperature, with the most significant impact in summer and the least in winter. The results also indicated that, despite decreasing lake level, local climate conditions are still influenced by Lake Urmia, but to a lesser extent.

Effects of Water Level Decline in Lake Urmia, Iran, on Local Climate Conditions

Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran is the largest lake in Iran and the second largest saltwater lake in the world. The water level in Lake Urmia has decreased dramatically in recent years, due to drought, climate change, and overuse of water resources for irrigation. This shrinking of the lake may affect local climate conditions, assuming that the lake itself affects the local climate. In this study, we quantified the lake’s impact on the local climate by analyzing hourly time series of data on climate variables (temperature, vapor pressure, relative humidity, evaporation, and dewpoint temperature for all seasons, and local lake/land breezes in summer) for the period 1961-2016. For this, we compared high quality, long-term climate data obtained from Urmia and Saqez meteorological stations, located 30 km and 185 km from the lake center, respectively. We then investigated the effect of lake level decrease on the climate variables by dividing the data into 1961-1995 (normal lake level) and 1996-2016 (low lake level). The results showed that at Urmia station (close to the lake), climate parameters displayed fewer fluctuations and were evidently affected by Lake Urmia compared with those at Saqez station. The effects of the lake on the local climate increased with increasing temperature, with the most significant impact in summer and the least in winter. The results also indicated that, despite decreasing lake level, local climate conditions are still influenced by Lake Urmia, but to a lesser extent.

Microplastics in Sediment and Surface Water of West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake: Abundance, Source and Composition

Microplastic pollution was investigated in sediment and surface water in West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake for the first time. The abundance of microplastics ranged from 616.67 to 2216.67 items/m3 and 716.67 to 2316.67 items/m3 in the lakeshore surface water of West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake, respectively. The highest levels of microplastic pollution were found in the lakes’ outlets. In the lake center sites of the West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake, the abundance of microplastics ranged from 433.33 to 1500 items/m3 and 366.67 to 1566.67 items/m3, respectively. Meanwhile, the study found that in lakeshore sediment of West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake, microplastic concentrations ranged from 320 to 480 items/m3 and 200–1150 items/m3. Polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were most common in the surface water and sediment samples, respectively. In addition, we suggest that the effects of polymer types in microplastics should be taken into account when considering abundance. This study can provide valuable points of reference to better understanding microplastic pollution in inland freshwater areas.

Distribution and Composition of Aquatic Macrophytes in Santhapettai Lake of Villupuram District in Tamil Nadu

Macrophytes are important component of the aquatic ecosystem and broad changes in the abundance of individual species and community composition provide valuable information on how and why an ecosystem might be changing. Santhapettai lake is one of the biggest fresh water lake in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. The physico-chemical parameters were analysed for one year (October 2012-September 2013). Quadrates were laid randomly and extending from shoreline towards the lake center. The macrophytes falling in each quadrate were sorted species wise, identified and data were recorded. The plants have been identified from fresh materials with the help of different floras. In this present investigation, a total of 33 species belonging to 23 families and 28 genera were identified under algae, pteridophytes, dicotyledons and monocotyledons. Further, the plants were classified in morphological group as floating (7), submerged (1), submerged anchored (13), floating leaved (1) and emergent anchored (11). The coverage/spread of macrophytes along the shorelines was higher compared to the centre of the lakes where the species composition was found reduced. Assessment of biota, continuous monitoring and conservation lake are the important components to safeguard the biological wealth of lentic and lotic freshwater ecosystem.

Analysis on Phytoplankton Community Diversity in Xingkai Lake

The phytoplankton community were investigated at Xingkai Lake in July and August 2011. The results showed that there were 31 species belonging to 5 phylum of phytoplankton in Xingkai Lake. In the detect, 10 species (32.29%) of Cholorophyta was found. Cell density in Dangbi town and Lake center was 1.592×106ind./L and 1.562×106ind./L respectively. Cell density of Cyanophyta was the highest, and the dominant species were Merismopedia tenuissim, Anabaena sphaerica and Phormidium anomala . Shannon-Wiener index of samples in the two places were 2.85 and 2.86 respectively, and Margalef index were 1.59 and 1.27 respectively. It showed that the type of water was mesosaprobic-heavy pollution type, and we should pay attention to the water pollution.

High-elevation late Pleistocene (MIS 6–5) vertebrate faunas from the Ziegler Reservoir fossil site, Snowmass Village, Colorado

The vertebrate record at the Ziegler Reservoir fossil site (ZRFS) near Snowmass Village, Colorado ranges from ~140 to 77 ka, spanning all of Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. The site contains at least 52 taxa of macro- and microvertebrates, including one fish, three amphibian, four reptile, ten bird, and 34 mammal taxa. The most common vertebrate is Ambystoma tigrinum (tiger salamander), which is represented by >22,000 elements representing the entire life cycle. The mastodon, Mammut americanum, is the most common mammal, and is documented by >1800 skeletal elements making the ZRFS one of the largest accumulations of proboscidean remains in North America. Faunas at the ZRFS can be divided into two groups, a lake-margin group dating to ~140–100 ka that is dominated by woodland taxa, and a lake-center group dating to ~87–77 ka characterized by taxa favoring more open conditions. The change in faunal assemblages occurred between MIS 5c and 5a (vertebrates were absent from MIS 5b deposits), which were times of significant environmental change at the ZRFS. Furthermore, the ZRFS provides a well-dated occurrence of the extinct Bison latifrons, which has implications for the timing of the Rancholabrean Mammal Age in the region.

Dissolved organic carbon and relationship with bacterioplankton community composition in 3 lake regions of Lake Taihu, China

To clarify the relationships between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and bacterioplankton community composition (BCC), a 1-year survey (June 2009 – May 2010) was conducted in 3 regions of Lake Taihu (Meiliang Bay, Lake Center, and Eastern Taihu), China. Polymerase chain reaction – denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the composition and heterogeneity of the bacterioplankton community. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to explore the relationships between DOC concentration and BCC. We found a significant negative correlation between DOC concentration and bacterioplankton community diversity (as measured by the Shannon–Wiener index (H′)). The results show that spatial variation in the bacterioplankton population was stronger than the seasonal variation and that DOC concentration influences BCC in Lake Taihu. DOC concentration, followed by macrophyte biomass, water turbidity, and phytoplankton biomass were the most influential factors that account for BCC changes in Lake Taihu. More detailed studies on the relationship between DOC concentration and BCC should focus on differences in DOC concentrations and quality among these lake regions. DOC had a significant impact on BCC in Meiliang Bay. The relationship between DOC and BCC in the 2 other regions studied (Lake Center and Eastern Taihu) was weaker. The results of this study add to our understanding of the BCC in eutrophic lakes, especially regarding the role of the microbial loop in lake ecosystems.

Multivariate statistic and time series analyses of grain-size data in quaternary sediments of Lake El'gygytgyn, NE Russia

Lake El'gygytgyn, located in the Far East Russian Arctic, was formed by a meteorite impact about 3.58 Ma ago. In 2009, the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) at Lake El'gygytgyn obtained a continuous sediment sequence of the lacustrine deposits and the upper part of the impact breccia. Here, we present grain-size data of the past 2.6 Ma. General downcore grain-size variations yield coarser sediments during warm periods and finer ones during cold periods. According to principal component analysis (PCA), the climate-dependent variations in grain-size distributions mainly occur in the coarse silt and very fine silt fraction. During interglacial periods, accumulation of coarser material in the lake center is caused by redistribution of clastic material by a wind-induced current pattern during the ice-free period. Sediment supply to the lake is triggered by the thickness of the active layer in the catchment and the availability of water as a transport medium. During glacial periods, sedimentation at Lake El'gygytgyn is hampered by the occurrence of a perennial ice cover, with sedimentation being restricted to seasonal moats and vertical conduits through the ice. Thus, the summer temperature predominantly triggers transport of coarse material into the lake center. Time series analysis that was carried out to gain insight into the frequency of the grain-size data showed variations predominately on 98.5, 40.6, and 22.9 kyr oscillations, which correspond to Milankovitch's eccentricity, obliquity and precession bands. Variations in the relative power of these three oscillation bands during the Quaternary suggest that sedimentation processes at Lake El'gygytgyn are dominated by environmental variations caused by global glacial–interglacial variations (eccentricity, obliquity), and local insolation forcing and/or latitudinal teleconnections (precession), respectively.

Multivariate statistic and time series analyses of grain-size data in Quaternary sediments of Lake El'gygytgyn, NE Russia

Lake El'gygytgyn, located in the Far East Russian Arctic, was formed by a meteorite impact about 3.58 Ma ago. In 2009, the ICDP Lake El'gygytgyn Drilling Project obtained a continuous sediment sequence of the lacustrine deposits and the upper part of the impact breccia. Here, we present grain-size data of the past 2.6 Ma. General downcore grain-size variations yield coarser sediments during warm periods and finer ones during cold periods. According to Principal Component Analyses (PCA), the climate-dependent variations in grain-size distributions mainly occur in the coarse silt and very fine silt fraction. During interglacial periods, accumulation of coarser grain sizes in the lake center is supposed to be caused by redistribution of clastic material by a wind-induced current pattern during the ice-free period. Sediment supply to the lake is triggered by the thickness of the active layer in the catchment, and the availability of water as transport medium. During glacial periods, sedimentation at Lake El'gygytgyn is hampered by the occurrence of a perennial ice-cover with sedimentation being restricted to seasonal moats and vertical conducts through the ice. Thus, the summer temperature predominantly triggers transport of coarse material into the lake center. Time series analysis that was carried out to gain insight in the frequency of the grain-size data showed grain-size variations predominately on Milankovitch's eccentricity, obliquity and precession bands. Variations in the relative power of these three oscillation bands during the Quaternary imply that climate conditions at Lake El'gygytgyn are mainly triggered by global glacial/interglacial variations (eccentricity, obliquity) and local insolation forcing (precession), respectively.