Open AccessVentilation and dissolved oxygen cycle in L ake S uperior: Insights from a numerical model
Author(s) -
Matsumoto Katsumi,
Tokos Kathy S.,
Gregory Chad
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.928
H-Index - 136
ISSN - 1525-2027
DOI - 10.1002/2015gc005916
Subject(s) - biogeochemical cycle , ventilation (architecture) , oxygen , bathymetry , geology , environmental science , atmosphere (unit) , hydrology (agriculture) , oceanography , environmental chemistry , meteorology , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , physics , organic chemistry
Abstract Ventilation and dissolved oxygen in Lake Superior are key factors that determine the fate of various natural and anthropogenic inputs to the lake. We employ an idealized age tracer and biogeochemical tracers in a realistically configured numerical model of Lake Superior to characterize its ventilation and dissolved O 2 cycle. Our results indicate that Lake Superior is preferentially ventilated over rough bathymetry and that spring overturning following a very cold winter does not completely ventilate the lake interior. While this is unexpected for a dimictic lake, no part of the lake remains isolated from the atmosphere for more than 300 days. Our results also show that Lake Superior's oxygen cycle is dominated by solubility changes; as a result, the expected relationship between biological consumption of dissolved O 2 and ventilation age does not manifest.