Quantifications and water quality implications of minerogenic particles in Cayuga Lake, New York, and its tributaries

Abstract

An individual particle analysis technique, scanning electron microscopy interfaced with automated image and X-ray analyses (SAX), was applied to characterize the minerogenic particle populations of Cayuga Lake (New York) and its primary tributaries and quantify their effects on common water quality metrics. The primary summary metric of SAX results is demonstrated to be the total projected area of minerogenic particles per unit volume of water (PAVm). PAVm is documented to be linearly related to the minerogenic components of particulate phosphorus (PPm), turbidity (Tn/m), and the light scattering coefficient, and inversely related to Secchi depth (SD). SAX is demonstrated to support partitioning of PAVm into contributions of multiple size and geochemical classes. Clay mineral particles dominated in the tributaries and the lake, although they shifted somewhat to smaller sizes (1–15 μm) in the lake. Levels of PAVm were higher in a lake area that adjoins the tributary inputs than in pelagic waters, particularly after runoff events. This increased PAVm degraded water quality, including higher PPm and Tn/m and lower SD relative to the pelagic waters, although diminished (still recognizable) signatures are documented lake-wide. Advantages of SAX over gravimetric analyses for the minerogenic particle populations of lakes include (1) improved analytical performance, (2) insights from the more robust size and composition information, (3) theoretical advantages for optical impacts, and (4) stronger relationships with water quality metrics.