Impact Analysis on Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Nutrients in Taihu Lake

Abstract

This study analyzed the spatial and temporal distributions of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and chlorophyll a in Taihu Lake, Easter China, and assessed the migration and dispersion patterns of nutrients in the lake in recent years. The results show that the highest concentrations of the three kinds of nutrients are located in the northern parts of Zhushan Bay and Meiliang Bay, and tend to spread from north to south and from west to east. The maximum total nitrogen concentration appeared in the north as early as 1-2 months earlier than in the south and showed a tendency to appear 1-2 months earlier than the past in various stations. High levels of total phosphorus remained progressively shorter periods from north to south. The maximum level of chlorophyll a appeared gradually later from north to south. As the southeastern region was affected by temperature, the peak there appeared twice in a year. Changes in levels of total nitrogen, chlorophyll a and biomass appeared to have significant inter-annual cycles. Changes in levels of biomass showed a 4-month lag in comparison to nitrogen.