The Imprint of Primary Production on High-Frequency Profiles of Lake Optical Properties

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02585
• Publication Date: 2021-09-30T21:04:43Z
• Authors: Camille Minaudo; Daniel Odermatt; Damien Bouffard; Abolfazl Irani Ra...; Sébastien Lavanchy; Alfred Wüest
• Keywords: Diel vertical migration; Biogeochemical Cycle; Lake ecosystem; Stratification (seeds)

Water inherent optical properties (IOPs) contain integrative information on the constituents of surface waters. In lakes, IOP measurements have not been traditionally collected. This study describes how high-frequency profiles can be used to document short-term physical and biogeochemical processes that ultimately influence long-term trajectory lake ecosystems. Between October 2018 May 2020, we collected 1373 high-resolution hyperspectral in uppermost 50 m large mesotrophic Lake Geneva (Switzerland–France), using an autonomous profiler. A data set this size content does exist for any other lake. Results showed seasonal variations IOPs, following expected dynamic phytoplankton. We found systematic diel patterns IOPs. Phases these cycles were consistent year-round, amplitudes correlated diurnal dissolved oxygen, clarifying link between IOPs phytoplankton metabolism. Diel largest spring summer under low wind condition. Wind-driven changes thermal stratification impacted illustrating potential water increase our understanding carbon cycling