Seasonal Variation of Chemical Parameters in Alaskan Tundra Lakes
Howard HH and Prescott GW. 1973. Seasonal Variation of Chemical Parameters in Alaskan Tundra Lakes. The American Midland Naturalist. 90(1):154-164
Chemical parameters were monitored for 20 months in two shallow lakes near Barrow, Alaska. After formation of an ice cover, all parameters, except dissolved oxygen and pH, increased to a maximum at time of maximum ice depth. The pH values were essentially the inverse of other parameters after an ice cover was formed. Dissolved oxygen increased to supersaturation values in January and then gradually decreased until photosynthetic rates became significant. The lakes did not become anaerobic at any time. During and immediately after thawing, dissolved oxygen was near saturation and all other solutes (except pH) fell to minimum values. After this low point, concentrations began to increase toward another maximum in the following year. Solutes may be concentrated up to about 30 times by the thick ice cover. Ratios of solutes deviated widely from mean world values, probably because of the close proximity of the lakes to the ocean. Imikpuk, nearer to the ocean, had most ratios closer to ocean values. Seasonally, except at the time of the thaw, ratios were essentially constant except for cl/hc03. Cl/hc03 decreased after ice formation and until photosynthetic rates became significant. During ice melt, ratios differed from values at other times, possibly because of differential occlusion of solutes in ice.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Howard, H; Prescott, G
- Units
- BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA
- Keywords
- Arctic, Barrow, Chemical Properties, Chemistry, dissolved solutes, Ice, ice depth, ice thaw, Imikpuk Lake, Iroavik Lake, Lakes, Limnology, pH, tundra lakes, Water - Hydrology, Water Chemistry