Physico-chemical Characterization of Gosainkunda Lake

• DOI: 10.3126/njst.v13i1.7449
• Publication Date: 2013-01-22T13:55:51Z
• Authors: Rosha Raut; Subodh Sharma; Rosha M Bajracharya; Chhatra Mani Sharma; Smriti Gurung
• Keywords: Bedrock; Biogeochemical Cycle

High altitude lakes are very sensitive to climate change due their small catchment area, limited vegetation cover, surface water with low nutrients, and thin soil bedrock weathering rates. The present study was focused on high Himalayan Lake Gosainkunda, situated at an elevation of 4300 m in the Langtang National Park, carried out during post- monsoon season (October) 2010. main aim assess quality quantitatively considering anthropogenic as well natural impacts lake. samples were collected six different sites represent entirely sampling systematically designated inlet, outlet, human influence site, littoral zone, middle (central) deepest part Some major cations (Ca++, Mg++, Na+ & K+) anions (Cl-, SO4 — HCO3 -) analyzed; cation type is dominated by Ca++ (64%) while Cl- (49%). Among trace elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb As), except for Al all others found below detection limit. Nepal Journal Science Technology Vol. 13, No. 1 (2012) 107-114 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v13i1.7449