Summer high frequency monitoring in Sauce Grande shallow lake (Argentina)

FORNERÓN, C. F., PICCOLO M. C. Y PERILLO, G.M.E

Ramot

Workshop; 12th meeting of the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON); 2011

Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON)

It is important to know that high frequency data from buoys offer new opportunities to investigate lake variability at timescales that are not resolved by traditional weekly to monthly lake sampling. Sauce Grande shallow lake (38°57’ S - 61°24'W) is located in the Southwest of Buenos Aires province (Argentina). The location and morphometry of this natural water body is controlled by a coastal dunes system. The Sauce Grande river discharges into the shallow lake and then continues its flow to the sea. Due to the lack of water in the region the sluices connecting to the water reservoir were closed. Monthly physical (water temperature, electrical conductivity, suspended sediment, pH, dissolved oxygen) and meteorological parameters (air temperature, relative humidity and wind) were measured from September 2008 to December 2010. On February 2011, a buoy was installed in the Sauce Grande shallow lake. Water temperature, conductivity, suspended sediment, water level and meteorological parameters are measured with a time interval of 5 minutes. Data is available at a website (emac.criba.edu.ar). An analysis of the measured parameters is presented. Electrical conductivity values ranged between 9.5 and 7.5 mS/cm. Suspended sediment concentration varied between 200 and 550 mg/l and those values were correlated with wind speed. The evaporation on the shallow lake was significant during February and March 2011 due to the high summer temperatures.