Spatial variability of absorption coefficients over a biogeochemical gradient in a large and optically complex shallow lake

Citation

Riddick C, Hunter P, Tyler A, Martinez-Vicente V, Horvath H, Kovacs AW, Voros L, Preston T & Presing M (2015) Spatial variability of absorption coefficients over a biogeochemical gradient in a large and optically complex shallow lake [Light absorption in Lake Balaton]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 120 (10), pp. 7040-7066. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JC011202

Abstract
In order to improve robustness of remote sensing algorithms for lakes, it is vital to understand the variability of inherent optical properties (IOPs) and their mass-specific representations (SIOPs). In this study, absorption coefficients for particulate and dissolved constituents were measured at 38 stations distributed over a biogeochemical gradient in Lake Balaton, Hungary. There was a large range of phytoplankton absorption (aph(λ)) over blue and red wavelengths (aph(440) = 0.11–4.39 m−1, aph(675) = 0.048–2.52 m−1), while there was less variability in chlorophyll-specific phytoplankton absorption (a*ph(λ)) in the lake (a*ph(440) = 0.022 ± 0.0046 m2mg−1, a*ph(675) = 0.010 ± 0.0020 m2mg−1) and adjoining wetland system, Kis-Balaton (a*ph(440) = 0.017 ± 0.0015 m2mg−1, a*ph(675) = 0.0088 ± 0.0017 m2mg−1). However, in the UV, a*ph(350) significantly increased with increasing distance from the main inflow (Zala River). This was likely due to variable production of photoprotective pigments (e.g., MAAs) in response to the decreasing gradient of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The slope of CDOM absorption (SCDOM) also increased from west to east due to larger terrestrial CDOM input in the western basins. Absorption by nonalgal particles (aNAP(λ)) was highly influenced by inorganic particulates, as a result of the largely mineral sediments in Balaton. The relative contributions to the absorption budget varied more widely than oceans with a greater contribution from NAP (up to 30%), and wind speed affected the proportion attributed to NAP, phytoplankton, or CDOM. Ultimately, these data provide knowledge of the heterogeneity of (S)IOPs in Lake Balaton, suggesting the full range of variability must be considered for future improvement of analytical algorithms for constituent retrieval in inland waters.

Keywords
absorption;IOPs;chlorophyll-a;phycocyanin;phytoplankton;Lake Balaton

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans: Volume 120, Issue 10

People

Dr Peter Hunter

SIEC/Forth-ERA Science Director, Scotland's International Environment Centre

Professor Andrew Tyler

Scotland Hydro Nation Chair, Biological and Environmental Sciences