Convection in bottom sediments and its role in material exchange between water and sediments

Abstract

In two Finnish lakes, in winter and summer, a constant temperature in the sediment was not reached until a depth of 1.5–2 m. The thermal stratification pattern in the sediment was similar to that in water. However, the lack of turbulent mixing in the sediment resulted in a thin ‘episediment’. This stratification was caused by convection. Convection currents in the sediment were most prevalent during spring and autumn overturn when the density of overlying water was greater than that of the interstitial water. Convection was also possible in winter. The duration and magnitude of convection was dependent on warming and cooling rates. Such convection currents may be important in material exchange between sediment and water since material concentrations in interstitial water are 5–100 times greater than in overlying water.