Factors behind the variability of phosphorus accumulation in Finnish lakes

Phosphorus retention (TPacc) is one of the major water quality regulators in lakes. The current study aimed at ascertaining the specific lake characteristics regulating TPacc. Moreover, we were interested whether NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation), a proxy of climatic forcing, can explain variability...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Soils and Sediments
Main Authors: Tammeorg, Olga, Haldna, Marina, Noges, Peeter, Appleby, Peter, Mols, Tonu, Niemisto, Juha, Tammeorg, Priit, Horppila, Jukka
Other Authors: Lake Ecosystem Dynamics, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, AgriChar research group, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Plant Production Sciences, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Springer Heidelberg 2019
Subjects:
Lake characteristics
Lakes
NAO
Phosphorus accumulation rate
Phosphorus retention
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION PATTERNS
NORTH-ATLANTIC OSCILLATION
LONG-TERM
SEDIMENT PHOSPHORUS
WATER-QUALITY
DISSOLVED SUBSTANCES
EUTROPHIC LAKES
TROPHIC STATUS
CLIMATE-CHANGE
SHALLOW LAKES
1172 Environmental sciences
North Atlantic
North Atlantic oscillation
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10138/307852
Description
Summary:Phosphorus retention (TPacc) is one of the major water quality regulators in lakes. The current study aimed at ascertaining the specific lake characteristics regulating TPacc. Moreover, we were interested whether NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation), a proxy of climatic forcing, can explain variability in TPacc, additionally to that ascribed to lake characteristics. Sediment cores were obtained from 21 Finnish lakes, subject to radiometric dating and measurements of TP concentrations. Principal components (PCs) were generated using lake characteristics that are usually included into the modelling of TPacc (e.g. lake area, lake depth, catchment area, P inflow) but also the parameters that the classical models usually missed (e.g. anoxic factor). We used significant principal components (PCs), specific combinations of lake characteristics and monthly NAO values as predictors of TPacc. Lake characteristics explained the bulk of TPacc variability. The most influential factors (positive drivers) behind TPacc included PC1 (representing mainly deep lakes), PC2 (small lakes with high levels of anoxia and water column stability), PC3 (productive lakes with large catchment area and short water residence time), PC4 (lakes with high water column stability, low anoxic factor and relatively high sediment focusing) and PC5 (lakes with high levels of P inflow, anoxia and long water residence time). Additionally, we found a potential negative effect of NAO in October on the annual TPacc. This NAO was significantly positively related to temperatures in surface and near-bottom water layer (also their difference) in autumn, suggesting the possible implications for the internal P dynamics. Increased mineralization of organic matter is the most likely explanation for the reduced TPacc associated with NAO-driven water temperature increase. The analysis presented here contributes to the knowledge of the factors controlling P retention. Moreover, this spatially and temporally comprehensive sediment data can potentially be a valuable source ...

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