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Oxygen04
Oxygen04
Oxygen04
1. How do temperature, thermal stratification and biological activity influence oxygen profiles in lakes? 2. What are the major chemical reactions involved in the inorganic carbon complex?
6 CO2 + 6 H2O
C6H12O6 + 6 O2
1. It influences pH
Oxygen flux:
O2
Diffusion
photosynthesis
O2
respiration
Diffusion across the air-water boundary depends on the concentration gradient and turbulence
Henrys Law:
Cs = KP
Where: Cs = the saturation concentration of a gas K = the solubility constant P = partial pressure
Saturationthe amount of a gas that can be held by water in equilibrium with the atmosphere at a given temperature, pressure and salinity Subsaturationthe condition where the water holds less than the saturation concentration of a particular gas Supersaturationthe condition where the water holds more than the saturation concentration of a particular gas
Oxygen (mg/L)
10 8 6 4 2 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 Temperature (C)
Supersaturation occurs during periods of intense photosynthesis Can have flux of oxygen out of water (by diffusion) if water is supersaturated
Mixing pattern
Productivity
Morphometry
Lakes are classified based on productivity: Oligotrophic low productivity and clear water Eutrophic high productivity and green water
In oligotrophic lakes, oxygen concentrations are strongly influenced by temperature In eutrophic lakes, oxygen concentrations are modified by photosynthesis and decomposition
Wetzel 2001
Oxygen (m g/L) 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
0 0 2 4
Oxygen (m g/L) 6 8 10 12
10
10
Depth (m)
15
15
20
20
25
25
30
30
35
35
Morphometry
What are the volumes of the epilimnion and hypolimnion?
Dead organisms fall into the hypolimnion where they decompose This decomposition removes oxygen
All else being equal, the hypolimnion of a deeper lake will have more total oxygen because there is more water
Winterkillsnow and ice block out sunlight. No photosynthesis but continued respiration
Summmerkillin late summer, macrophytes die and begin to decompose. Most common in shallow basins.
22 August 1993
Te mpe r a t ur e ( C) 10 15 20 25 30
10
12
CO2
Diffusion
photosynthesis respiration
CO2
There is normally much more carbon dioxide in water than expected by Henrys Law. --most lakes are supersaturated with CO2 --like oxygen, CO2 is less soluble in warm water
CO2 H2CO3
Carbonate
Bicarbonate Calcium bicarbonate Calcium carbonate Hydrogen ion Hydroxyl ion
CO2 (air)
Some of the dissolved CO2 hydrates (reacts with water) to from carbonic acid:
CO2 + H2O
H2CO3
H2CO3
HCO3- + H+
HCO3-
CO32- + H+
Free H+ ions will also react with free OH- ions (when available) to form water
pH = - log [H+]
pH ranges from <1 to 14 7 = neutral < 7 = acidic (lots of H+ ions) > 7 = alkaline (lots of OH- ions)
Carbonic Acid
Bicarbonate
Carbonate
CO2 + H2O
H2CO3
HCO3- + H+
CO32- +2 H+
These reactions get a bit more complicated: Also have reactions that result in the formation of the hydroxyl ion
Bicarbonate
Carbonic acid
HCO3- + H2O
Carbonate
H2CO3 + OHBicarbonate
CO32- + H2O
HCO3- + OH-
depends on the pH
At high pH (> ~8.5), calcium carbonate can reprecipitate due to high photosynthesis in the epilimnion Usually happens in late summer (warm temperatures, recall relationship between solubility and temperature)
Ca(HCO3)2 CaCO3 (Solid) + H2O + CO2
Can remain in suspension and cause the lakes to look milky, called whiting
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/Images/seawifs_lake_mich_2001_tn.jpg
The Buffer System Lakes that have a lot of carbonate can resist changes in pH with the addition of acids
Ability to resist changes in pH with respect to the addition of acid is called Alkalinity or Acid neutralizing capacity-ANC
The more acid needed to reach 4.5, the more buffered a lake is against changes in pH
Lakes in limestone regions have high buffering capacity and are therefore not as impacted by Acid Rain. Lakes on granite are highly impacted.
Terms to Know
pH DIC Henrys Law saturation supersaturation subsaturation solubility productivity/production oligotrophic eutrophic othograde clinograde heterograde anoxic/anoxia winterkill summerkill marl alkalinity/ANC