Trace metal chemistry of a Dutch reservoir, the Tjeukemeer

SUMMARY. 1  The concentrations of total and dissolved (<0.2 μm) Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, Zn and Al in the Dutch reservoir, the Tjeukemeer, were recorded fortnightly between 1984 and 1986. 2  Due to its reservoir function, the Tjeukemeer receives water that is relatively rich in Fe and Mn from its peaty drainage area in winter. In summer, water that is relatively rich in Cu and Zn from lake IJsselmeer, which is flushed by a tributary of the River Rhine, flows into the lake. Therefore trace metal loads, as estimated from annual mean concentrations and hydraulic data, are climate-dependent. 3  In wet years, such as 1985, the annual Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn loads may be 3.1,0.2,0.001 and 0.009 gm−2, respectively. In dry years, such as 1984 and 1986, the Fe and Mn loads may be less than one quarter while the Cu and Zn loads may double. Especially in wet years comparable Cu and Zn inputs occur by deposition. 4  Despite the dependence of trace metal loads on the climate-dependent water regime. Principal Component Analysis indicated no strong relation between the total Cu, Co, Zn and Al concentrations in lake water and hydrological tracers such as Cl− and UV absorbance. Instead, wind speed appeared to be more strongly connected with the dynamics of these metals. Thus in the shallow Tjeukemeer, internal trace metal loading due to wind-induced resuspension starts to dominate the contributions of external loads to the total metal concentrations at wind speeds exceeding 3ms−1.