You are here:
Impacts of Changing Precipitation on Natural Organic Matter and Microorganisms in Lakes and Reservoirs
Citation:
Zepp, R., M. Molina, M. Cyterski, C. Fitzgerald, C. E. WILLIAMSON, AND S. CORSI. Impacts of Changing Precipitation on Natural Organic Matter and Microorganisms in Lakes and Reservoirs . Presented at ASLO 2013 Aquatic Sciences Meeting, New Orleans, LA, February 17 - 22, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation for ASLO 2013 Aquatic Sciences Meeting
Description:
Changes in watershed hydrology affect runoff of natural organic matter and contaminants that can in turn have important effects on water quality in lakes. We analyzed data obtain at lakes, reservoirs, and nearby riverine tributaries in Wisconsin (Lake Michigan), the Poconos, and Ohio to evaluate the impact of rainfall events on the runoff, lake concentrations, absorption and fluorescence spectra of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Concurrent data on CDOM, microbial densities, riverine discharge, and other hydrometeorological and biogeochemical parameters were obtained during the summers of 2011 and 2012 in the Manitowoc (WI) River watershed and in locations on Lake Michigan close ot the mouth of the river. Results show that CDOM levels are significantly enhanced by precipitation and that CDOM strongly attenuates underwater UV radiation in the river and lake systems. The relationship between the nearshore lake levels of the fecal indicator, enterococci, CDOM and other biogeochemical and climatic parameters (independent variables) was evaluated using process models and multiple linear regression analysis.
