Trace metal and major ion concentrations in Lakes Hayes and Manapouri

Abstract

The major ion (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr*, Cl, SO4 2, alkalinity, reactive Si) and trace metal (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd and Pb) compositions of Lakes Hayes and Manapoun have been studied on five occasions throughout the seasonal cycle and depth range of each lake In L Manapoun, seasonal changes in both major element and trace metal concentrations were negligible and almost within the precision of analytical methods, indicating a highly uniform water composition Major element concentrations were extremely low by global standards, in most cases below the 1% percentile level for global fresh waters By contrast, the much shallower L Hayes exhibited much higher major element concentrations, close to the global mean In addition, this lake showed a clear anoxic sub‐surface layer during summer, in which concentrations of the redox‐active metals Fe and Mn became very high Evidence of surface water utilisation of reactive Si, and deeper water scavenging of Cu, were both found in this lake