Long‐term changes in the areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficit (AHOD) of Onondaga Lake: Evidence of sediment feedback

Abstract

Long-term trends in the rate of depletion of hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen (DO) are documented for ionically enriched hypereutrophic Onondaga Lake, New York, for the 1978-2002 interval. Depletion rates, represented as areal hypolimnetic oxygen deficits (AHOD, g m Ϫ2 d Ϫ1), are calculated on the basis of weekly DO profiles of 1-m resolution and estimates of coincident inputs of DO from overlying layers driven by vertical mixing. Vertical mixing inputs of DO are important in this system, representing from 15% to 37% (mean 25%) of AHOD. Interannual variations in hypolimnetic temperatures have comparatively minor (Ϯ6%) effects on AHOD. AHOD decreased 49%, from an average of 2.12 g m Ϫ2 d Ϫ1 for the 1978-1986 interval, to an average of 1.08 g m Ϫ2 d Ϫ1 for the 1997-2002 interval. This decrease was driven by an abrupt decrease in the deposition of particulate organic carbon into the hypolimnion starting in 1987. The magnitude of the decrease in AHOD closes reasonably well with decreases in both primary production in the trophogenic zone and organic carbon deposition to the tropholytic zone. The time course of the decrease in AHOD is consistent with localization of oxygen-demanding processes within the lake sediments, reflecting the progression of sediment diagenesis.

Organic carbon mass accumulation rate regulates the flux of reduced substances from the sediments of deep lakes

“…This can be a substantial fraction of total AHM, especially in lakes with a small hypolimnion volume. Matthews and Effler (2006) showed the importance of F red for sediment O 2 demand in Onondaga Lake. Further, F red was responsible for up to 42 and 86 % of the total AHM in the Pfäffikersee and Türlersee (Switzerland), respectively, where NH + 4 and CH 4 fluxes represented up to 90 % of F red , while Fe(II) and Mn(II) fluxes played only a minor role (Matzinger et al, 2010).…”

Parameterisation of sediment geochemistry for simulating water quality responses to long-term catchment and climate changes in polymictic, eutrophic Lake Rotorua, New Zealand

“…Matthews and Effler [22], for example, found that a rapid decrease of hypolimnetic oxygen demand in Onondaga Lake, New York, was driven by a decrease in organic matter loading to the bottom waters.…”

Partitioning phosphorus concentrations and loads in tributaries of a recovering urban lake

“…Increased inputs of domestic and industrial wastes accompanied development of the watershed and led to degradation and loss of uses, including the cold-water fishery (late 1800s; Tango and Ringler 1996). Manifestations of severe cultural eutrophication included: (1) high concentrations of phytoplankton biomass, with occurrences of blooms of nuisance cyanobacteria (Matthews et al 2001); (2) low water clarity (Effler et al 2008b); (3) rapid seasonal loss of dissolved oxygen (DO) from the hypolimnion (Matthews and Effler 2006b); (4) accumulation of reduced by-products of anaerobic metabolism (Matthews et al 2008); and (5) severe depletion of DO in the upper waters during fall mixing associated with oxidation of the reduced constituents (Matthews and Effler 2006a).…”