Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flume simulation of wave-induced release of internal dissolved nitrogen in Taihu Lake, China

  • Chemistry
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A wave flume simulator was used to study internal nitrogen release from the surface sediment collected from Taihu Lake, China. Particulate nitrogen concentrations were positively correlated with the concentrations of suspended solids, primarily from surface erosion related to the shear stress and duration of wave action. In response to 4 cm- and 10 cm-high wave production representing waves generated in Taihu Lake by gentle and gusty winds, respectively, the mean dynamic release rate of ammonium (NH +4 ) from the sediment to the overlying water was 1×10−3 mg/(m2·s) and the NH +4 concentration in the overlying water increased by 0.016 mg/L, indicating that waves resulting from strong wind can induce the rapid release of dissolved nitrogen from Taihu Lake sediments. The decrease in interstitial NH +4 concentrations at all sediment depths was associated with an increase in NH +4 concentrations in the overlying water by 0.01 mg/L, showing that sediment below the eroded layer was the main source of internal nitrogen release. Changes in the interstitial dissolved oxygen and NH +4 concentrations showed that wave-induced pore water movement can greatly increase the diffusion rate, and that these effects can influence the sediment to a depth of at least 15 cm. Diffusion induced by pore water movement may be very important for the formation of an active sediment layer in Taihu Lake.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cai C F, Gu X H, Huang H Z, Dai X Y, Ye Y T, Shi C J. 2012. Water quality, nutrient budget, and pollutant loads in Chinese mitten crab ( Eriocheir sinensis) farms around East Taihu Lake. Chinese J. Oceanol. Limnnol., 30(1): 29–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding Y Q, Qin B Q, Zhu G W, Wu T F, Wang Y P, Luo L C. 2011. Effects of typhoon Morakot on a large shallow lake ecosystem, Lake Taihu, China. Ecohydrology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eco.270.

  • Fan C X, Wang C X. 2007. Environment Geochemistry and Eutrophication of Shallow Lakes on the Lower-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River. Science Press, Beijing, China. p.274–282. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan C X, Yang L Y, Zhang L. 2000. The vertical distributions of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sediment and interstitial water in Taihu Lake and their interrelations. J. Lake Sci., 12(4): 359–366. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan C X, Zhang L, Wang J J, Zheng C H, Gao G, Wang S M. 2004. Processes and mechanism of effects of sludge dredging on internal source release in lakes. Chinese Sci. Bull., 49(17): 1 853–1 859.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross A, Boyd C E. 1998. A digestion procedure for the simultaneous determination of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in pond water. J. World Aquacult. Soc., 29: 30–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo L. 2007. Doing battle with the green monster of Lake Taihu. Science, 317: 1 166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton D P, Mitchell S F. 1997. Wave-induced shear stresses, plant nutrients and chlorophyll in seven shallow lakes. Freshwater Biol., 38: 159–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilton J, Lishman J P, Millington A. 1986. A comparison of some rapid techniques for the measurement of density in soft sediments. Sedimentology, 33(5): 777–781.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu C H, Hu W P, Zhang F B, Hu Z X, Li X H, Chen Y G. 2006. Sediment resuspension in the Lake Taihu, China. Chinese Sci. Bull., 51(6): 731–737.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laenen A, LeTourneau A P. 1996. Upper Klamath Basin Nutrient-Load Study—Estimate of Wind-Induced Resuspension of Bed Sediment During Periods of Low Lake Elevation. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-414. Portland, Oregon.

  • Luo L C, Qin B Q, Zhu G W, Sun X J, Hong D L, Gao Y J, Xie R. 2006. Nutrient fluxes induced by disturbance in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu. Sci. China Ser. D, 49(Supp.I): 186–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nydahl F. 1978. On the peroxodisulphate oxidation of total nitrogen in waters to nitrate. Water Res., 12(12): 1 123–1 130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paerl H W, Xu H, Mccarthy M J, Zhu G W, Qin B Q, Li Y, Gardner W S. 2011. Controlling harmful cyanobacterial blooms in a hypereutrophic lake (Lake Taihu, China): the need for a dual nutrient (N & P) management strategy. Water Res., 45(5): 1 973–1 983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pang Y, Han T, Li Y P, Zhai J B. 2007. Simulation and model computation on dynamic release of nutrition factors of bottom mud in Taihu Lake. Environ. Sci., 28(9): 1 960–1 964. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pang Y, Zhuang W, Han T, Li Y P, Zhai J B. 2008. Experiment and model simulation of suspended solids in Taihu Lake under wind wave disturbance. Environ. Sci., 29(10): 2 743–2 748. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettersson K. 1998. Mechanisms for internal loading of phosphorus in lakes. Hydrobiologia, 373/374: 21–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin B Q. 2008. Lake Taihu, China: Dynamics and Environmental Change (Monographiae Biologicae 87). Springer. p.141–143.

  • Qin B Q, Hu W P, Gao G, Luo L C, Zhang J S. 2004. Dynamics of sediment resuspension and the conceptual schema of nutrient release in the large shallow Lake Taihu, China. Chinese Sci. Bull., 49: 54–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin B Q, Zhu G W, Zhang L, Luo L C, Gao G, Gu B H. 2006. Estimation of internal nutrient release in large shallow Lake Taihu, China. S ci. China Ser. D, 49(Supp. I): 38–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin B Q, Xu P Z, Wu Q L, Luo L C, Zhang Y L. 2007. Environmental issues of Lake Taihu, China. Hydrobiologia, 581: 3–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy K R, Fisher M M, Ivanoff D. 1996. Resuspension and diffusive flux of nitrogen and phosphorus in a hypereutrophic lake. J. Environ. Qual., 25: 363–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riedl R J, Huang N, Machan R. 1972. The subtidal pump: a mechanism of interstitial water exchange by wave action. Mar. Biol., 13: 210–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheng Y P, Lick W. 1979. The transport and resuspension of sediments in a shallow lake. J. Geophys. Res., 84(C4): 1 809–1 826.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha P A, Orlob G T. 1996. Multiphase distribution of cohesive sediments and heavy metals in estuarine systems. J. Environ. Eng-ASCE, 122: 730–740.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone R. 2011. China aims to turn tide against toxic lake pollution. Science, 333: 1 210–1 211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun X J, Zhu G W, Luo L C, Qin B Q. 2006. Experimental study on phosphorus release from sediments of shallow lake in wave flume. Sci. China Ser. D, 49(Supp. I): 92–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Søndergaard M, Jeppesen J P, Jeppesen E. 1999. Internal phosphorus loading in shallow Danish lakes. Hydrobiologia, 408/409: 145–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Søndergaard M, Jeppesen J P, Jeppesen E. 2001. Retention and internal loading of phosphorus loading in shallow, eutrophic lakes. Sci. World J., 1: 427–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Søndergaard M, Jeppesen J P, Jeppesen E. 2003. Role of sediment and internal loading of phosphorus in shallow lake. Hydrobiologia, 506/509: 135–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J J, Shen J, Zhang L, Liu E F. 2009. Spatial heterogeneity of oxygen exchange between sediment-water interface in lakes. J. Lake Sci., 21(4): 474–482. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch E B, Cooke G D. 1999. Effectiveness and longevity of phosphorus inactivation with alum. Lake Reserv. Manage., 15: 5–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Paerl H W, Qin B, Zhu G, Gao G. 2010. Nitrogen and phosphorus inputs control phytoplankton growth in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China. Limnol. Oceanogr., 55(1): 420–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • You B S, Wang T C, Fan C X, Zhong J C, Yin H B, Li B, Gong H L. 2008. The simulation of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus loading variations under the influence of wind-wave in aquatic macrophytes areas of Lake Taihu. China Environ. Sci., 28(1): 33–38. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhong J C, Liu G F, Fan C X, Li B, Zhang L, Ding S M. 2009. Environmental effect of sediment dredging in lake: II. the role of sediment dredging in reducing internal nitrogen release. J. Lake Sci., 21(3): 335–344. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu G W, Qin B Q, Gao G. 2005. Direct evidence of phosphorus outbreak release from sediment to overlying water in a large shallow lake caused by strong wind wave disturbance. Chinese Sci. Bull., 50(6): 577–582.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Tingfeng Wu  (吴挺峰), Boqiang Qin  (秦伯强), Guangwei Zhu  (朱广伟), Yanqing Ding  (丁艳青), Yongping Wang  (王永平), Liancong Luo  (罗潋葱) & Wei Li  (李未)

  2. Pearl River Hydraulic Research Institute, Pearl River Water Conservancy Commission, Guangzhou, 510611, China

    Wenming Zhang  (张文明)

Authors
  1. Tingfeng Wu  (吴挺峰)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Boqiang Qin  (秦伯强)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guangwei Zhu  (朱广伟)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yanqing Ding  (丁艳青)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yongping Wang  (王永平)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Liancong Luo  (罗潋葱)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Wei Li  (李未)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Wenming Zhang  (张文明)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Boqiang Qin  (秦伯强).

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41101458, 40825004, 40871095, 40801200), the Major Project for National Science and Technology Development (No. 2010ZX03006-006), and the “100-Talent Project” of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China (No. YOBROB045)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wu, T., Qin, B., Zhu, G. et al. Flume simulation of wave-induced release of internal dissolved nitrogen in Taihu Lake, China. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 30, 796–805 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1207-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1207-7

Keyword

Search

Navigation