Bidirectional sulfate diffusion in saline-lake sediments: Evidence from Devils Lake, northeast North Dakota
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Chemical and isotopic gradients in pore water in Devils Lake indicate that maximum rates of sulfate reduction occur between 1 and 3 cm depth in the bottom sediments. Dissolved sulfate diffuses into the sulfate-reduction zone upward from deeply buried saline pore water at an average rate of 1.4 x 10-5 μmol ⋅ cm-2 ⋅ s-1, and downward from the overlying water column at an average rate of 2.4 x 10-5 μmol ⋅ cm-2 ⋅ s-1. The result is a bidirectional flux of sulfate into the sulfate-reduction zone. Upward-diffusing sulfate provides a ready supply of electron acceptors for sulfate-reducing bacteria even at fairly great depths in the sediments. The abundance of electron acceptors enables sulfate-reducing bacteria to outcompete methanogenic bacteria for organic material and thereby suppress methane production. Suppression of methanogenesis may be widespread in sulfate-rich lakes and wetlands and may limit methane fluxes from these water bodies to the atmosphere.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Bidirectional sulfate diffusion in saline-lake sediments: Evidence from Devils Lake, northeast North Dakota |
| Series title | Geology |
| DOI | 10.1130/0091-7613(1992)020<0319:BSDISL>2.3.CO;2 |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 1992 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Geological Society of America |
| Publisher location | Washington, D.C. |
| Contributing office(s) | Minnesota Water Science Center, North Dakota Water Science Center, South Dakota Water Science Center, Dakota Water Science Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Geology |
| First page | 319 |
| Last page | 322 |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Dakota |
| Other Geospatial | Devil's Lake |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |