Limnological studies on Lake Kinneret (Israel): Coupling of physical, sedimentological, and biogeochemica processes

llia Ostrovsky

(Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Kinneret Limnological Laboratory)

Physical processes (heat fluxes, wind, thermal stratification, water movements, inflows, etc) and chemical and biological regimes are closely related in a large variety of aquatic ecosystems. Recent studies have displayed significant progress in understanding the importance of physical processes in controlling the spatial and temporal dynamics of nutrient loading, sedimentation, fluxes at the sediment-water interface, succession of planktonic organisms, and changes in trophic status.

In Lake Kinneret, internal seiching and related water motions near lake boundaries affect the entire ecosystem by inducing sediment resuspension, increasing nutrient fluxes from the sediments, and generating nutrient inputs into the epilimnion. These processes have resulted in formation of spatial heterogeneity in primary productivity, spatial distribution of planktonic organisms and fish, sedimentation fluxes, and bottom sediment characteristics. These processes are also important to the emission of methane from bottom sediments and for greenhouse gas emissions by lakes.