Distribution of Sediment Measurements in Lake Michigan as a Case Study: Implications for Estimating Sediment and Water Interactions in Eutrophication and Bioaccumulation Models

Abstract

Lake Michigan, the sixth largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, was utilized as a water body for assessment. Field data collected at sampling sites throughout the lake in an intensive monitoring effort were utilized for evaluation of the distribution of sediment measurements. An assessment of sediment nutrient and carbon measurements within Lake Michigan was completed to recognize strata resulting from the hydrodynamics of the system. Nonparametric comparison tests revealed that significant differences exist between measurements of sediment nutrients and organic carbon in the lake using strata based upon water column depth (all results demonstrated a p < 0.05, α = 0.05

Trends of Sediment Resuspension and Budget in Southern Lake Michigan Under Changing Wave Climate and Hydrodynamic Environment

“…In large lakes, sediment plays a significant role in ecosystems through sediment suspension and transport mechanisms. The sediment suspension and transport are important for the cycling of nutrients and contaminants via sediment particles (Brooks & Edgington, 1994; Chen et al., 2004; Eadie et al., 1984; Eadie & Robbins, 1987; Ji et al., 2002; Miller et al., 2016; Millie et al., 2002; Robbins & Eadie, 1991). Furthermore, an increase in suspended sediment can diminish light transmission, which in turn decreases photosynthesis by aquatic plants, negatively affecting the growth of aquatic plants as well as the dissolved oxygen levels (Berry et al., 2003; Blom et al., 1994).…”