Origin and fate of Lake Vostok water frozen to the base of the East Antarctic ice sheet

The subglacial Lake Vostok may be a unique reservoir of genetic material and it may contain organisms with distinct adaptations, but it has yet to be explored directly. The lake and the overlying ice sheet are closely linked, as the ice-sheet thickness drives the lake circulation, while melting and freezing at the ice-sheet base will control the flux of water, biota and sediment through the lake. Here we present a reconstruction of the ice flow trajectories for the Vostok core site, using ice-penetrating radar data and Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of surface ice velocity. We find that the ice sheet has a significant along-lake flow component, persistent since the Last Glacial Maximum. The rates at which ice is frozen (accreted) to the base of the ice sheet are greatest at the shorelines, and the accreted ice layer is subsequently transported out of the lake. Using these new flow field and velocity measurements, we estimate the time for ice to traverse Lake Vostok to be 16,000-20,000 years. We infer that most Vostok ice analysed to date was accreted to the ice sheet close to the western shoreline, and is therefore not representative of open lake conditions. From the amount of accreted lake water we estimate to be exported along the southern shoreline, the lake water residence time is about 13,300 years.     

Constraints on hydrothermal processes and water exchange in Lake Vostok from helium isotopes

Lake Vostok, the largest subglacial lake in Antarctica, is covered by the East Antarctic ice sheet, which varies in thickness between 3,750 and 4,100 m (ref. 1). At a depth of 3,539 m in the drill hole at Vostok station, sharp changes in stable isotopes and the gas content of the ice delineate the boundary between glacier ice and ice accreted through re-freezing of lake water. Unlike most gases, helium can be incorporated into the crystal structure of ice during freezing, making helium isotopes in the accreted ice a valuable source of information on lake environment. Here we present helium isotope measurements from the deep section of the Vostok ice core that encompasses the boundary between the glacier ice and accreted ice, showing that the accreted ice is enriched by a helium source with a radiogenic isotope signature typical of an old continental province. This result rules out any significant hydrothermal energy input into the lake from high-enthalpy mantle processes, which would be expected to produce a much higher 3He/4He ratio. Based on the average helium flux for continental areas, the helium budget of the lake leads to a renewal time of the lake of the order of 5,000 years.     

Rapid discharge connects Antarctic subglacial lakes

The existence of many subglacial lakes provides clear evidence for the widespread presence of water beneath the East Antarctic ice sheet, but the hydrology beneath this ice mass is poorly understood. Such knowledge is critical to understanding ice flow, basal water transfer to the ice margin, glacial landform development and subglacial lake habitats. Here we present ice-sheet surface elevation changes in central East Antarctica that we interpret to represent rapid discharge from a subglacial lake. Our observations indicate that during a period of 16 months, 1.8 km3 of water was transferred over 290 km to at least two other subglacial lakes. While viscous deformation of the ice roof above may moderate discharge, the intrinsic instability of such a system suggests that discharge events are a common mode of basal drainage. If large lakes, such as Lake Vostok or Lake Concordia, are pressurizing, it is possible that substantial discharges could reach the coast. Our observations conflict with expectations that subglacial lakes have long residence times and slow circulations, and we suggest that entire subglacial drainage basins may be flushed periodically. The rapid transfer of water between lakes would result in large-scale solute and microbe relocation, and drainage system contamination from in situ exploration is, therefore, a distinct risk.     

Water exchange between the subglacial Lake Vostok and the overlying ice sheet

It has now been known for several years that a 200-km-long lake, called Lake Vostok, lies beneath the ice sheet on which sits Vostok Station in Antarctica. The conditions at the base of the ice sheet above this subglacial lake can provide information about the environment within the lake, including the likelihood that it supports life. Here we present an analysis of the ice-sheet structure from airborne 60-MHz radar studies, which indicates that distinct zones of basal ice loss and accretion occur at the ice-water interface. Subglacial melting and net ice loss occur in the north of the lake and across its 200-km-long western margin, whereas about 150 m of ice is gained by subglacial freezing in the south. This indicates that significant quantities of water are exchanged between the base of the ice sheet and the lake waters, which will enrich the lake with gas hydrates, cause sediment deposition and encourage circulation of the lake water.     

Large subglacial lakes in East Antarctica at the onset of fast-flowing ice streams

Water plays a crucial role in ice-sheet stability and the onset of ice streams. Subglacial lake water moves between lakes and rapidly drains, causing catastrophic floods. The exact mechanisms by which subglacial lakes influence ice-sheet dynamics are unknown, however, and large subglacial lakes have not been closely associated with rapidly flowing ice streams. Here we use satellite imagery and ice-surface elevations to identify a region of subglacial lakes, similar in total area to Lake Vostok, at the onset region of the Recovery Glacier ice stream in East Antarctica and predicted by ice-sheet models. We define four lakes through extensive, flat, featureless regions of ice surface bounded by upstream troughs and downstream ridges. Using ice velocities determined using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), we find the onset of rapid flow (moving at 20 to 30 m yr(-1)) of the tributaries to the Recovery Glacier ice stream in a 280-km-wide segment at the downslope margins of these four subglacial lakes. We conclude that the subglacial lakes initiate and maintain rapid ice flow through either active modification of the basal thermal regime of the ice sheet by lake accretion or through scouring bedrock channels in periodic drainage events. We suggest that the role of subglacial lakes needs to be considered in ice-sheet mass balance assessments.     

Stimulated influences of Lake Agassiz on the climate of central North America 11,000 years ago

Eleven thousand years ago, large lakes existed in central and eastern North America along the margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The large-scale North American climate at this time has been simulated with atmospheric general circulation models, but these relatively coarse global models do not resolve potentially important features of the mesoscale circulation that arise from interactions among the atmosphere, ice sheet, and proglacial lakes. Here we present simulations of the climate of central and eastern North America 11,000 years ago with a high-resolution, regional climate model nested within a general circulation model. The simulated climate is in general agreement with that inferred from palaeoecological evidence. Our experiments indicate that through mesoscale atmospheric feedbacks, the annual delivery of moisture to the Laurentide Ice Sheet was diminished at times of a large, cold Lake Agassiz relative to periods of lower lake stands. The resulting changes in the mass balance of the ice sheet may have contributed to fluctuations of the ice margin, thus affecting the routing of fresh water to the North Atlantic Ocean. A retreating ice margin during periods of high lake level may have opened an outlet for discharge of Lake Agassiz into the North Atlantic. A subsequent advance of the ice margin due to greater moisture delivery associated with a low lake level could have dammed the outlet, thereby reducing discharge to the North Atlantic. These variations may have been decisive in causing the Younger Dryas cold event.     

Enhanced ice sheet growth in Eurasia owing to adjacent ice-dammed lakes

Large proglacial lakes cool regional summer climate because of their large heat capacity, and have been shown to modify precipitation through mesoscale atmospheric feedbacks, as in the case of Lake Agassiz. Several large ice-dammed lakes, with a combined area twice that of the Caspian Sea, were formed in northern Eurasia about 90,000 years ago, during the last glacial period when an ice sheet centred over the Barents and Kara seas blocked the large northbound Russian rivers. Here we present high-resolution simulations with an atmospheric general circulation model that explicitly simulates the surface mass balance of the ice sheet. We show that the main influence of the Eurasian proglacial lakes was a significant reduction of ice sheet melting at the southern margin of the Barents-Kara ice sheet through strong regional summer cooling over large parts of Russia. In our simulations, the summer melt reduction clearly outweighs lake-induced decreases in moisture and hence snowfall, such as has been reported earlier for Lake Agassiz. We conclude that the summer cooling mechanism from proglacial lakes accelerated ice sheet growth and delayed ice sheet decay in Eurasia and probably also in North America.     

Preliminary results of ice radar investigation along the traverse between Zhongshan and Dome A in East Antarctic ice sheet: Ice thickness and subglacial topography

During the 24th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE 24, 2007/08), a ground-based ice radar was used to survey ice thickness and subglacial topography along the 1170 km traverse between Zhongshan and Dome A in East Antarctic ice sheet (EAIS). Ice-bedrock interface was detected along 82% of the traverse and data was collected at a horizontal resolution of <5.6 m. The data was processed to produce curves of ice thickness distribution and subglacial topography along the traverse. The results indicate that, along the traverse, the average ice thickness is 2037 m, smaller than the average ice thickness in EAIS; the thickest ice is at 730 km, and the thinnest ice (891 m) is at the edge of the ice sheet, but the slightly larger ice thickness (1078 m) in inland appears at 1020 km; the average subglacial topography elevation is 728 m, greatly larger than the average value in EAIS, and the largest elevation reaches up to 2650 m at 1034 km. The lowest terrain is located at 765 km. In further inland of 900–1170 km, the subglacial topography is relatively high due to the existence of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains in the region. Generally, the influence of subglacial topography on ice surface is not significant, except at 900 km where great rise of subglacial topography causes evident uplift of ice surface. Where ice-bedrock interface was detected, the frequent and strong change of ice thickness and subglacial topography in small-scale means large bedrock roughness along the traverse, and is considered as the result of the integrated influence of ice flow, basal environments and geology. The segment where bedrock was not detected has very large ice thickness. The strong ice flow there also makes internal structure more complicated and induces serious attenuation of radar signals.     

An analysis on the evolvement processes of lake eutrophication and their characteristics of the typical lakes in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River

Many lakes of China are in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, especially freshwater lakes, and their formation and evolvement are closely related to the change of water system and anthropic activity. In the recent decades, with the intensi…     

湖北省湖泊水资源生态经济学评价

湖北省湖泊水资源具有以下特点：水质呈弱碱性,具有较大的缓冲能力。１５％的湖泊属于贫营养型,５４％的湖泊属于中营养型,３０％的湖泊属于富营养型。湖泊水源较充足,水位变幅小,湖流不明显,风浪小,适用鱼类生长的水温期长。但目前利用水平较低,作者在分析和评价湖水质量和水情后,提出了利用对策。     

Perennial N2 supersaturation in an Antarctic lake

The dry valleys of southern Victoria Land in Antarctica contain several closed basins in which perennially ice-covered lakes are found. One of the most unusual features of these lakes is the occurrence of high O2 concentrations in the water column; values ranging from slightly more than saturation to more than four times saturation have been reported. Recently, we considered a bulk O2 budget for Lake Hoare, Antarctica, which led us to suggest that biological processes alone were not sufficient to explain the observed elevated oxygen levels. Consequently, there must be a non-biological source of O2. We suggested that this source results from the exclusion of O2 during the freezing of aerated meltstream water at the bottom of the ice cover, and predicted that this physical mechanism should also enhance the other atmospheric gases. Here we report the results of a study which, for the first time, documents the supersaturation of N2 in a lake. Dissolved N2 levels of 145% and 163% were determined from samples taken just below the ice cover and at a depth of 12 m, respectively. The relatively importance of biological and abiological sources is reflected in the ratio of N2 concentration to O2 concentration. In Lake Hoare this ratio was 1.20 at ice/water interface and 1.05 at 12 m; considerably different from the ratio in equilibrium with air (approximately 1.8). Based on these results, we have determined that about half of the net O2 production in the lake is the result of biological processes.     

Ice radar investigation at Dome A, East Antarctica: Ice thickness and subglacial topography

Dome A, located in the central East Antarctic ice sheet (EAIS), is the highest summit of the Antarctic ice sheet. From ice-sheet evolution modeling results, Dome A is likely to preserve over one million years of the Earth’s paleo-climatic and -environmental records, and considered an ideal deep ice core drilling site. Ice thickness and subglacial topography are critical factors for ice-sheet models to determine the timescale and location of a deep ice core. During the 21st and 24th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE 21, 2004/05; CHINARE 24, 2007/08), ground-based ice radar systems were used to a three-dimensional investigation in the central 30 km×30 km region at Dome A. The successfully obtained high resolution and accuracy data of ice thickness and subglacial topography were then interpolated into the ice thickness distribution and subglacial topography digital elevation model (DEM) with a regular grid resolution of 140.5 m×140.5 m. The results of the ice radar investigation indicate that the average ice thickness in the Dome A central 30 km×30 km region is 2233 m, with a minimal ice thickness of 1618 m and a maximal ice thickness of 3139 m at Kunlun Station. The subglacial topography is relatively sharp, with an elevation range of 949–2445 m. The typical, clear mountain glaciation morphology is likely to reflect the early evolution of the Antarctic ice sheet. Based on the ice thickness distribution and subglacial topography characteristics, the location of Kunlun Station was suggested to carry out the first high-resolution, long time-scale deep ice core drilling. However, the internal structure and basal environments at Kunlun Station still need further research to determine.     

Water balance estimates of ten greatest lakes in China using ICESat and Landsat data

Lake level and area variations are sensitive to regional climate changes and can be used to indirectly estimate water balances of lakes. In this study, 10 of the largest lakes in China, ～1000 km² or larger, are examined to determine changes in lake level and area derived respectively from ICESat and Landsat data recorded between 2003 and 2009. The time series of lake level and area of Selin Co, Nam Co, and Qinghai Lake in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and Xingkai Lake in northeastern China exhibit an increasing trend, with Selin Co showing the fastest rise in lake level (0.69 m/a), area (32.59 km²/a), and volume (1.25 km³/a) among the 10 examined lakes. Bosten and Hulun lakes in the arid and semiarid region of northern China show a decline in both lake level and area, with Bosten Lake showing the largest decrease in lake level (?0.43 m/a) and Hulun Lake showing the largest area shrinkage (?35.56 km²/a). However, Dongting, Poyang, Taihu, and Hongze lakes in the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin present seasonal variability without any apparent tendencies. The lake level and area show strong correlations for Selin Co, Nam Co, Qinghai, Poyang, Hulun, and Bosten lakes (R ² >0.80) and for Taihu, Hongze, and Xingkai lakes (～0.70) and weak correlation for East Dongting Lake (0.37). The lake level changes and water volume changes are in very good agreement for all lakes (R ² > 0.98). Water balances of the 10 lakes are derived on the basis of both lake level and area changes, with Selin Co, Nam Co, Qinghai, and Xingkai lakes showing positive water budgets of 9.08, 4.07, 2.88, and 1.09 km³, respectively. Bosten and Hulun lakes show negative budgets of ?3.01 and ?4.73 km³, respectively, and the four lakes along the Yangtze River show no obvious variations. Possible explanations for the lake level and area changes in these four lakes are also discussed. This study suggests that satellite remote sensing could serve as a fast and effective tool for estimating lake water balance.     

武汉市城市湖泊演化及开发利用初探

城市湖泊主要指位于建成区及其邻近正在非农化地区中的湖泊,也包括位于中心城市周围点状展布的卫星城镇区域范围内的湖泊．在分析武汉市湖泊现状特征的基础上,探讨了三国时期以来武汉市城市湖泊演化的过程与规律,提出了武汉市湖泊开发利用的基本思路．指出武汉市城市湖泊众多,可分为东沙湖水系、汤逊湖水系、北湖水系、墨水湖-龙阳湖-南太子湖（北太子湖）水系、东西湖水系等湖泊群．认为它们的形成演化、开发利用和保护同城市化过程关系极为密切,明代以来武汉市湖泊变化最为显著．提出了合理永续利用湖泊资源、发展湖泊经济、建设“湖城武汉”、加大湖泊保护力度等建议和对策．     

基于遥感影像群的洪湖水面利用变化检测

湖泊作为湿地的重要组成部分,对生态多样性的保持和环境功能的维系起着不可替代的作用.在经济社会发展的不同阶段,人类对于湖泊的开发利用体现出不同的特点.获取不同时期湖泊利用的信息不仅有助于了解湖泊变化的规律和原因,也可为湖泊未来的合理利用及生态管理提供决策支持.洪湖是湖北境内江汉湖群的最大湖泊.利用1985、1995、2000和2005年四期平水期TM/ETM遥感图像提取各期洪湖水面利用信息并进行分析.结果显示:1985年至2005年间,洪湖未利用湖面面积1985年到2000年由于受人为作用影响有所减少,2000年至2005年后基本维持谷值;围网养殖区的面积从1985年不断扩大直至2000年达到峰值,此后基本保持稳定;湖区水生植被相应也从1985年不断减少至2000年的谷底值,随后由于生态建设工程的实施,水生植被迅速恢复.     

洞庭湖新石器文化遗址与古环境

洞庭湖地区丰富的古文化遗址为研究历史时期环境演变提供了条件。洞庭湖在晚更新世末至早全新世呈现深切河谷与零星洼地湖泊共存的河湖切割平原景观。进入全新世暖期，人类活动开始在洞庭湖平原周边地区频繁出现；大溪文化时期人类已在平原湖区中部开始渔猫活动；屈家岭文化时期人类活动从洞庭湖平原中部退出；龙山文化时期人类文化活动遗址向湖中推进，湖泊三角洲有所发展。商周至秦汉时期，洞庭湖三角洲平原发育，河间洼地湖泊、沼泽形成。魏晋以来，特别是长江分流入洞庭，导致了洞庭湖的迅速扩张，19世纪以后，由于大量泥沙入洞庭湖及人类围垦，使洞庭湖迅速淤浅，湖泊面积锐减。     

Monitoring the frozen duration of Qinghai Lake using satellite passive microwave remote sensing low frequency data

The Qinghai Lake is the largest inland lake in China. The significant difference of dielectric properties between water and ice suggests that a simple method of monitoring the Qinghai lake freeze-up and break-up dates using satellite passive microwave remote sensing data could be used. The freeze-up and break-up dates from the Qinghai Lake hydrological station and the MODIS LIB reflectance data were used to validate the passive microwave remote sensing results. The validation shows that passive microwave remote sensing data can accurately monitor the lake ice. Some uncertainty comes mainly from the revisit frequency of satellite overpass. The data from 1978 to 2006 show that lake ice duration is reduced by about 14--15 days. The freeze-up dates are about 4 days later and break-up dates about 10 days earlier. The regression analyses show that, at the 0.05 significance level, the correlations are 0.83, 0.66 and 0.89 between monthly mean air temperature （MMAT） and lake ice duration days, freeze-up dates, break-up dates, respectively. Therefore, inter-annual variations of the Qinghai Lake ice duration days can significantly reflect the regional climate variation.     

Classification of Tibetan lakes based on variations in seasonal lake water temperature

Widespread lakes on the Tibetan Plateau （TP） are valuable archives for investigating climate and environment changes, which could provide essential information on the mechanisms of past climate changes on the TP and their interaction with the global climate systems. However, there is a lack of in-depth investigation of modern limnological processes in the Tibetan lakes, which hampers the understanding of paleolimnological records and lake ecosystem succession. In this study, we performed continuous temperature monitoring at two lakes, Bangong Co, a freshwater lake in the western TP, and Dagze Co, a brackish lake in the central TP, in order to characterize the patterns of seasonal temperature variability, stratification, and mixing. Temperature data for an entire hydrological year demonstrate that Bangong Co is a dimictic lake and that Dagze Co is a meromictic lake. The higher salinity in the deep water at Dagze Co prevents the lake from overturning completely, and this finding is supported by simulations using a physical limnological model Lake Analyzer. Continuous lake water temperature monitoring provides fundamental data for classifying Tibetan lakes, as well as the hydrological basis for understanding their pa- leolimnological records and ecosystem succession.     

太湖水环境综合治理的实践与思考

回顾并总结近年来太湖水环境综合治理的做法和效果.经过近5年的持续努力,太湖水环境治理已经取得初步成效,蓝藻暴发减弱,湖体水质得到改善,湖泛基本消失.实践证明,目前太湖水环境综合治理采取的控源治污、打捞蓝藻、生态清淤、调水引流措施是行之有效的.认为对于太湖这样的浅水型湖泊污染治理,控源是基本思路,转变发展方式是必由之路,生态清淤是有效措施,促进河湖良性互动是必要途径,正确把握湖泊的生命规律是重要课题;由于太湖污染的长期积累,太湖已形成的“藻型生境条件”很难在短期内得到根本改变,加之现有的入湖污染仍远超湖体允许的纳污能力,一旦温度、水流、光照等外部条件适宜,太湖蓝藻生态危害仍然可能大规模暴发,太湖水环境形势依然严峻.     

三仙湖氮磷污染现状与问题诊断

 三仙湖湖区水质好坏及水量多寡关乎湖南南县及周边地区的战略饮用水安全。三仙湖流域水质与底质的调查结果表明：三仙湖湖体水中总磷平均质量浓度为0.18 mg/L,总氮平均质量浓度为1.26 mg/L,总体水质为V类,总磷超标严重,对比国内重要湖泊水质总氮均值依次表现为三仙湖 < 洞庭湖 < 鄱阳湖 < 太湖,总磷均值为鄱阳湖 < 洞庭湖 < 三仙湖 < 太湖。沉积物中总氮污染较重,总磷生态效应较总氮低,对比国内重要湖泊底质总氮均值表现为洞庭湖 < 三仙湖 < 鄱阳湖 < 太湖,总磷均值表现为三仙湖 < 鄱阳湖 < 洞庭湖 < 太湖。分析表明,目前存在农业面源污染严重、湖内底泥淤积、内源污染释放风险较大、散养牲畜进入湖区放养现象突出、受精养塘等渔业污染严重等问题。