Abstract

The crater lake Lake Albano is an increasingly diminishing water resource in terms of volume, the lake level has dropped more than four meters since the 1960s, and water quality resulting from elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. The area of the lake, and the volcano as a whole, is also considered to be geologically hazardous due to continual shallow seismic activity, gaseous emissions and hydrothermal activity. Therefore, most research has been focussed on the geological aspects of the Albano lake system, whilst long-term limnological studies have been lacking. A meromictic classification was given to the lake, but this was based on one year studies of the surface water only. Presented and discussed are the results of a water chemistry and biological study of the full depth profile of Lake Albano from 2004 to 2008. During winter 2005-2006 the lake underwent a complete overturn, resulting in an influx of nutrient rich hypolimnetic water into the upper productive layers and oxygenated epilimnetic water into the deepest water layers. The effect of full overturn on the phytoplankton community is described and compared with those of meromictic years. The interplay between natural and anthropological processes on water quality and water usages is also discussed.

Details

Title
Water chemistry and trophic evaluation of Lake Albano (Central Italy): a four year water monitoring study
Author
ELLWOOD, Neil TW; ALBERTANO, Patrizia; GALVEZ, Rosa; FUNICIELLO, Renato; MOSELLO, Rosario
Pages
288-303
Section
Original Articles
Publication year
2009
Publication date
Aug 2009
Publisher
PAGEPress Publications
ISSN
11295767
e-ISSN
17238633
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2417752983
Copyright
© 2009. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.