Lewis A. Molot

Dissolved organic and inorganic carbon mass balances in central Ontario lakes

Mass balances of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolvedinorganic carbon (DIC) based on stream and precipitation inputs andoutflows were measured for seven unproductive lakes in central Ontariobetween 1981 and 1989. Net annual CO2 evasion occurred in sixof the seven study lakes with minor net invasion in the seventh. Atmosphericinvasion might have been significant at certain times of the year, particularlyduring the growing season. Net evasion rates were greater than DIC loadingrates, indicating partial mineralization of the terrestrially-derived DOC in thelakes. A steady state mass balance model adequately described the variationin DOC retention between lakes. Net annual carbon accumulation of forestcommunities based on estimates of net ecosystem production may beoverestimated because of significant export of carbon to lakes via streamsand groundwater, particularly in catchments with extensive peatlands.

Photolytic regulation of dissolved organic carbon in northern lakes

We examined the extent to which photolytic and nonphotolytic decomposition rates of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) could account for the annual retention or loss of DOC inputs in lakes (retention is equal to stream inputs plus atmospheric inputs minus stream discharge which is equivalent to storage in sediments plus degassed to atmosphere). Losses of DOC inputs to sediments and the atmosphere were large, averaging 38 to 70% of total inputs in seven study lakes between 1980 and 1992. Up to 50% of stream DOC was lost as inorganic C when exposed to solar radiation during 6 to 11 day surface exposures in bottles whereas lake DOC concentration was unaffected by solar radiation. Stream DOC loss was significantly less in the dark suggesting a low microbial consumption rate. Photodecay constants, extrapolated to each of the study lakes after correction for in situ mixing conditions and extinction of UVA and UVB, were similar to corresponding mass balance rate constants representing sediment storage and losses to the atmosphere. This suggests that photodecay is potentially large enough in situ to account for all of the DOC losses to the atmosphere and sediments in the low DOC lakes ( 4 mg L−1). The mass balance and photodecay approaches employed in the study of carbon budgets show that UV degradation is probably an important mechanism in transfer of stream DOC to the sediment particulate C pool and to the atmosphere.

THE EFFECT OF EL NIÑO-RELATED DROUGHT ON THE RECOVERY OF ACIDIFIED LAKES

AbstractAlthough SO2 emissions and deposition rates havedeclined substantially since the implementation of sulphuremission control programmes in North America [1], recovery(measured as decreases in

Nitrogen mass balances and denitrification rates in central Ontario Lakes

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Long-term phosphorus budgets and an examination of a steady-state mass balance model for central Ontario lakes

concentrations) of affected lakes in central Ontario has been much less substantial thananticipated based on the decrease in deposition. The slowrecovery is attributed to the reoxidation and release of storedsulphur in catchments. Reduced sulphur retained in previousyears when sulphur deposition was higher is exposed to air andoxidized during severe droughts, then exported duringsubsequent wet periods. Elevated stream

Evaluating relationships between sediment chemistry and anoxic phosphorus and iron release across three different water bodies

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