Thermal-oxygen conditions in Lake Białe Włodawskie in the summer half year (2012–2015)

Abstract

The article presents thermal-oxygen conditions of Lake Białe Włodawskie in the warm half-year (May–October) in the years 2012–2015. Due to its morphometric parameters, summer stratification develops in the lake. In the period analysed in the paper, the highest temperature was recorded in July 2012 (27.5°C), and the lowest at the bottom in May 2013 (4.2°C). The highest difference in temperature throughout the water column was recorded during measurements in July 2012. It amounted to 22.7°C (27.5°C at the surface and 4.8°C at the bottom). The highest mean temperature throughout the water column (determined as the mean from all of the analysed months) occurred in 2015 (9.7°C), and the lowest in 2013 (7.8°C). The highest water temperature corresponded to the highest air temperature for station Włodawa, located several kilometres north of the lake. The mean concentration of oxygen dissolved in water (as the mean from all of the analysed months) suggests that the highest value 4.7 [mgO2 ∙ dm-3] occurred in 2012, and the lowest 3.0 [mgO2 ∙ dm-3] in 2013. In vertical distribution, the maximum oxygen concentration mounted to 13.5 [mgO2 ∙ dm-3] in May 2013, and the minimum value decreased to zero multiple times. Complete lack of oxygen occurred each time in August, September, and October. It appeared the earliest in June 2013 (at a depth of 26 m), and the latest in August 2015 (at a depth of 28 m). The thickest water layer without oxygen was recorded in August 2013 already at a depth of 11 m. The studied lake is prone to strong anthropopressure. Due to favourable morphometric parameters and high resistance to degradation, however, it still maintains its high recreational values, although such a state may change in the near future in the context of increasing anthropopressure and observed climatic changes.