Using noble gases to analyze the efficiency of artificial aeration in Lake Hallwil, Switzerland

Eutrophic Lake Hallwil (Switzerland) is equipped with an artificial aeration system to prevent anoxic conditions developing in the deep water during stratification in summer. The aeration system consists of diffusers releasing oxygen‐rich gas containing noble gases into the deep water at the bottom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water resources research 2012-09, Vol.48 (9), p.np-n/a
Main Authors: Holzner, C. P., Tomonaga, Y., Stöckli, A., Denecke, N., Kipfer, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anoxic conditions
artifical aeration
Artificial aeration
Deep water
Diffusion coefficient
Efficiency
Eutrophic lakes
Eutrophication
Freshwater
gas exchange
Gases
Helium
Hogs
noble gases
oxygen
Physical properties
Water bodies
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Summary:Eutrophic Lake Hallwil (Switzerland) is equipped with an artificial aeration system to prevent anoxic conditions developing in the deep water during stratification in summer. The aeration system consists of diffusers releasing oxygen‐rich gas containing noble gases into the deep water at the bottom of the lake. The deep water is strongly supersaturated with He, Ne, and Ar, while Kr and Xe are present at concentrations corresponding to their respective atmospheric equilibria. The observed noble gas excesses are related to the operation of the aeration system and to the composition of the injected aeration gas. We show how noble gas data were used successfully to estimate the fraction of the injected aeration gas that effectively remains dissolved in the water body. In particular, as the physical properties of Ar (e.g., atomic mass, solubility, diffusion coefficient) are similar to those of oxygen, the measured noble gas concentrations allow the efficiency of the aeration system to be quantified. Key Points Assessment of artificial aeration system efficiency using noble gases Estimation of effectively dissolved fraction of aeration gas Dissolved Ar excess allows quantification of oxygen transfer to the water body
ISSN:0043-1397
1944-7973
DOI:10.1029/2012WR012030