Origin and behaviour of dissolved inorganic carbon in Lake Kivu as traced by stable carbon isostopes
Rwabuhungu, D.; Chou, L.; Wollast, R.; Dehairs, F.A.; Roevros, N. (2004). Origin and behaviour of dissolved inorganic carbon in Lake Kivu as traced by stable carbon isostopes, in: Mees, J. et al. VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 5 March 2004: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 17: pp. 64
In: Mees, J.; Seys, J. (Ed.) (2004). VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 5 March 2004: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 17. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. X, 148 pp., more
In: VLIZ Special Publication. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. ISSN 1377-0950, more
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Document type: Summary
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| Keywords |
Inorganic matter > Carbon > Inorganic carbon > Dissolved inorganic matter > Dissolved inorganic carbon
Isotopes > Carbon isotopes
Africa, East African Rift Valley [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
Lake Kivu, situated in the western branch of the East African Rift Valley is one of the great lakes in Africa. The 485m-deep lake is strongly stratified into 7 layers and contains methane gas deposit associated with carbon dioxide (Tietze et al., 1980). The main objective of this study is to identify the biogeochemical processes affecting the carbon cycle in this lake. Stable carbon isotopes were used to trace the origin and behaviour of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the system. In addition, various chemical analyses were performed in order to elucidate processes affecting the production of DIC in the lake. Samples were collected in water columns of the Rwandan part of the lake Kivu, offshore Gisenyi and Kibuye, in May 2001, February 2002 and December 2002. The choice of sampling locations was made, based on the main point of exploitation of gas deposit planning (Tietze, 2000). Our results indicate a close relationship between the stratified layers and the variation in d13C, particularly in the main layer situated at 250m. The surface water has been subjected to intensive evaporation whereas the saline hydrothermal water released at the bottom is isotopically identical to the local meteoric water (Degens et al., 1973). The biogeochemical behaviour of carbon can be explained by oxidation and photosynthesis, in addition to convection between different stratified layers of the lake. |
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