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The water circulation brings nutrients from the bottom to the surface where they promote algae growth. Oxygen from the surface, meanwhile, is spread through the lake and supports aquatic life. The new study showed that, if global greenhouse-gas emissions continue at current levels, mixing could become less frequent and less deep, and possibly stop as early as 2019. "While we expected that the lake would mix less in the future, learning that we may be only a decade or two from the complete shutdown of deep mixing was very surprising." Schladow said. "If mixing shuts down, then no new oxygen gets to the bottom of the lake, and creatures that need it, such as lake trout, will have a large part of their range excluded," Schladow said. When the oxygen is gone, phosphorus contained in lake-floor sediments would be released and spur algae growth, further damaging the lake's clarity and water quality. Related Links: |
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