Limnology of two lake systems of Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska: physical and chemical profiles major ions, and trace elements
Laperriere JD. 1997. Limnology of two lake systems of Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska: physical and chemical profiles major ions, and trace elements. Hydrobiologia: The International Journal on Limnology and Marine Sciences. 354(1 - 3):89-99
Six large lakes in the Naknek River drainage and four in the Alagnak River drainage were sampled once a summer for three summers, 1990-1992, in a baseline water quality study of Katmai National Park and Preserve. These pristine lakes are discontinuous cold polymictic, mixing to great depths occasionally through the ice-free season due to frequent winds of coastal storms. Cation proportions were similar among lakes with sodium somewhat overrepresented, most likely due to the location at the base of the Alaska Peninsula in proximity to the influences of the Pacific Ocean. Anion proportions varied. Six Naknek lakes and one Alagnak lake were typical calcium carbonate lakes. Chloride and sulfate were proportionally high in the others, resulting in the extreme in a `triple water' lake (Kulik Lake) and a calcium sulfate lake (Battle Lake). The high chloride proportions were, like sodium, probably due to the influences of ocean spray on precipitation. The high sulfate of Naknek Lake was probably due to volcanic influence, and there was some evidence of local geothermal imputs to Kulik Lake. Iron Springs Lake and Creek, which form one of Battle Lake's inlets, are known to be strongly influenced by sulfur minerals. The very low alkalinity of Battle Lake was associated with elevated concentrations of aluminum. These aluminum concentrations exceeded the freshwater chronic criterion for the protection of aquatic life. [source: Cambridge Scientific Abstracts]
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Laperriere, Jacqueline
- Units
- KATM
- Keywords
- Aluminum, Anions, Coastal, Hydrology, Lakes, Oligotrophic, polymictic, Ponds, Subarctic