Biogeochemical and microbial community structure differently modulates CO2 and CH4 dynamics in two adjacent volcanic lakes (Monticchio, Italy)

By hosting significant amounts of extra-atmospheric dissolved gases, including geogenic CO2 and CH4, volcanic lakes provide relevant ecosystem services through the key role the aquatic microbial community in mediating freshwater carbon fluxes. In view of elucidating the mechanisms governing the microbial spatial distribution and the possible implications for ecosystem functioning, we compared the hydrogeochemical features and the microbial community structure of two adjacent stratified volcanic lakes (Lake Grande - LG and Lake Piccolo - LP). Water chemistry, gases and their isotopic composition were coupled with microbial pigment profiling, cell counting, and phylogenetic analyses. LP showed transparent waters with low concentrations of chlorophyll-a and the occurrence of phycoerytrin-rich cyanobacteria. LG was relatively more eutrophic with a higher occurrence of diatoms and phycocyanine-rich cyanobacteria. Considering the higher concentrations of CO2 and CH4 in bottom waters, the oligotrophic LP was likely a more efficient sink of geogenic CO2 in comparison to the adjacent eutrophic LG. The prokaryotic community was dominated by the mixothrophic hgcI clade (family Sporichthyaceae) in the LG surface waters, while in LP this taxon was dominant down to -15 m. Moreover, in LP, the bottom dark waters harbored a unique strictly anaerobic bacterial assemblage associated with methanogenic Archaea (i.e. Methanomicrobiales), resulting in a high biogenic methane concentration. Water layering and light penetration were confirmed as major factors affecting the microbial distribution patterns. The observed differences in the geochemical and trophic conditions reflected the structure of the aquatic microbial community, with direct consequences on the dynamics of dissolved greenhouse gases

Very deep, thermally stratified lakes

In very deep freshwater lakes, deep recirculation presents itself with remarkable differences to shallower lakes. We consider the stratification where density gradients are exclusively due to temperature differences. The annual circulation patterns are discussed for various climatic conditions. Very deep lakes do not necessarily produce full overturns during Tmd transition in autumn and spring. Peculiarities of the stratification are derived for cases, in which surface temperatures cross 4℃ during the annual cycle: Firstly, the asymmetry between autumn and spring circulation, secondly, the proximity of temperature to the Tmd profile, and thirdly, the isothermal deep water. We compare conceptual model results of horizontally homogeneous lakes with measurements in very deep caldera lakes in Japan (Lakes Ikeda, Tazawa, Toya, Kuttara and Shikotsu). Between oligomictic lakes and thermobarically stratified lakes, we have found lakes circulating reliably despite their enormous depth. We discuss susceptibility to climate variability supported by comparisons with single point measurements from the 1920s and 1930s

Geothermal heat flux into deep caldera lakes Shikotsu, Kuttara, Tazawa and Towada

Geothermal heat fluxes into the deepest waters of four caldera lakes were measured. Temperature profiles within the stratification period between July and November 2007 allowed a quantification of the acquired heat. Due to their enormous depth, heat input from the lake bed was locally separated from heat fluxes at the surface. In conclusion, a direct measurement of geothermal heat input could be accomplished. Although enhanced geothermal activity could be suspected in all cases, two lakes showed a geothermal heat flux of 0.29 or 0.27 W/m(2) (Lake Shikotsu and Lake Tazawa), as found in other regions not affected by volcanism, while both other lakes (Lake Kuttara and Lake Towada) showed a greatly enhanced heat input of 1 or 18.6 W/m(2), respectively. In conclusion, within our investigated set, all lakes acquired more heat from the underground than the continental heat flux average. Hence, the heat flux into the lakes from the ground was not dominated by the temperature gradient implied by the inner heat of the earth. Other effects like the general temperature difference of deep lake water and the groundwater or local sources of heat in the underground deliver more important contributions. Obviously the flow of water in the underground can play a decisive role in the heat transport into the deep waters of lakes

Monitorización y Análisis de la Desgasificación del Lago de la Corta Guadiana (Minas de Herrerías, Huelva): primer informe parcial

Nº de pág: 44 Soporte: pdfEste informe resume los trabajos llevados a cabo durante la primera campaña realizada sobre el terreno entre los días 11 y 15 de Septiembre de 2017, y en la que se montó e instaló la tubería de desgasificación en la zona central del lago para reducir los actuales niveles de concentración de anhídrido carbónico (CO2) y de presión total de gases disueltos en la zona profunda del lago artificial existente en la Corta Guadiana en Minas de Herrerías (Huelva).Departamento de Investigación en Recursos Geológicos, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaUniversidad del Pais Vasco, EspañaHelmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung, Alemani