Accumulation of mantle gases in a permanently stratified volcanic lake (Lac Pavin, France)

Abstract

Lac Pavin is a volcanic crater lake in the Massif Central (France), characterized by a permanent vertical density stratification resulting from a strong and persistent chemocline between about 60 and 70 m depth. The deep water below the chemocline forms the monimolimnion, in which most dissolved ions as well as helium, carbon dioxide, and methane are strongly enriched. The 3He/4He isotope ratio of the excess helium is (9.09 ± 0.01) · 10−6, or (6.57 ± 0.01) Ra. These findings clearly indicate a flux of mantle-derived magmatic gases into the monimolimnion.In order to derive the fluxes of magmatic volatiles into Lac Pavin, it is essential to understand the hydrologic characteristics of the lake. Previously published two-box models have assumed groundwater input at the lake bottom, a short residence time in the monimolimnion, and biogenic origin of the CO2. We propose an alternative model with a flux of magmatic gases, but not of water, into the monimolimnion, and a weak diffusive coupling between the monimolimnion and the overlying mixolimnion which leads to a long deep-water residence time (≈ 70 yr). We reassess the carbon budget of the lake and conclude that the major part of the accumulated CO2 in the monimolimnion is of magmatic origin. From the model-derived water exchange rates, we calculated a mantle 4He flux of (6 ± 2) · 1011 atoms m−2 s−1. This value lies near the lower end of the range found in comparable volcanic lakes. The flux of magmatic CO2 is estimated as (1.2 ± 0.4) · 10−7 mol m−2 s−1, which is also comparatively low. The monimolimnion appears to be in steady state with respect to these fluxes, therefore no further, potentially hazardous, accumulation of CO2 takes place.