Water and dissolved gas geochemistry of the monomictic Paterno sinkhole (central Italy)

Submitted: 19 January 2012
Accepted: 4 April 2012
Published: 24 July 2012
Abstract Views: 2370
PDF: 633
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This paper describes the chemical and isotope features of water and dissolved gases from lake Paterno (max. depth 54 m), a sinkhole located in the NE sector of the S. Vittorino plain (Rieti, Central Italy), where evidences of past and present hydrothermal activity exists. In winter (February 2011) lake Paterno waters were almost completely mixed, whereas in summer time (July 2011) thermal and chemical stratifications established. During the stratification period, water and dissolved gas chemistry along the vertical water column were mainly controlled by biological processes, such as methanogenesis, sulfate-reduction, calcite precipitation, denitrification, and NH4 and H2 production. Reducing conditions at the interface between the bottom sediments and the anoxic waters are responsible for the relatively high concentrations of dissolved iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), likely present in their reduced oxidation state. Minerogenic and biogenic products were recognized at the lake bottom even during the winter sampling. At relatively shallow depth the distribution of CH4 and CO2 was controlled by methanotrophic bacteria and photosynthesis, respectively. The carbon isotope signature of CO2 indicates a significant contribution of deep-originated inorganic CO2 that is related to the hydrothermal system feeding the CO2-rich mineralized springs discharging in the surrounding areas of lake Paterno. The seasonal lake stratification likely controls the vertical and horizontal distribution of fish populations in the different periods of the year.

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Franco Tassi, University of Florence
Department of Earth Sciences
Jacopo Cabassi, University of Florence
Department of Earth Sciences
Roberto Palozzi, University of Tuscia
Department of Agricolture, Forests, Nature and Energy
Massimiliano Marcelli, University of Rome “La Sapienza”
Department of Animal and Human Biology
Marco Quartararo, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
Department of Biology
Francesco Capecchiacci, University of Florence
Department of Earth Sciences
Matteo Nocentini, University of Florence
Department of Earth Sciences
Orlando Vaselli, University of Florence
Department of Earth Sciences

How to Cite

Tassi, Franco, Jacopo Cabassi, Dmitri Rouwet, Roberto Palozzi, Massimiliano Marcelli, Marco Quartararo, Francesco Capecchiacci, Matteo Nocentini, and Orlando Vaselli. 2012. “Water and Dissolved Gas Geochemistry of the Monomictic Paterno Sinkhole (central Italy)”. Journal of Limnology 71 (2):e27. https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2012.e27.

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