Gas-Exchange Rates in a Small Lake as Determined by the Radon Method

Abstract

The radon method, used previously in ocean-atmosphere systems, is used here to determine the gas-exchange rate between the atmosphere and lake 227 of the Experimental Lakes Area. Fertilization of the lake with nitrogen and phosphorus caused the carbon dioxide partial pressure in the lake water to drop well below atmospheric levels; hence, in order to better understand the carbon budget of the lake, an estimate of the CO2 gas-exchange rate was necessary.To determine gas-exchange rates by measuring radon evasion to the atmosphere the source of radon in the lake water must be dissolved radium. Since the radon concentration in lakes derives not only from the decay of dissolved radium but also from the inflow of radon-rich groundwaters, radium was added to the lake to increase the radon concentration well above this fluctuating background level. Although this procedure was complicated by algal uptake of the radium in the lake (Emerson and Hesslein 1973), we were able to place limits on the gas-exchange rate.Our results indicate that the "stagnant boundary layer" thickness is approximately 300 μ. This value is among the largest observed in natural waters. Using this value and the partial pressure of CO2 in the lake water we have calculated an invasion rate of 17 ± 8 mmoles CO2/m2 day.