Modern silicon dynamics of a small high-latitude subarctic lake

Abstract

Abstract. High biogenic silica (BSi) concentration occurs sporadically in lake sediments throughout the world, however, the processes leading to high BSi concentrations varies. While BSi formation and preservation is expected to occur in silica-rich environments with high dissolved silicon (DSi) concentrations such as volcanic and hydrothermal inputs, the factors and mechanisms explaining high DSi and BSi concentrations in lakes remain unclear. We explored the factors responsible for the high BSi concentration in sediments of a small, high-latitude subarctic lake (Lake 850). To do this, we combined measurements of variations in stream discharges, DSi concentrations and stable Si isotopes in both lake and stream water with measurements of BSi content in lake sediments. Water, radon, and Si mass balances revealed the importance of groundwater discharge as a main source of DSi to the lake, with groundwater-derived DSi inputs 3 times higher than those from ephemeral stream inlets. After including all external DSi sources (i.e., inlets and groundwater discharge) and estimating the total BSi accumulation in the sediment, we show that diatom production consumes up to 79 % of total DSi input. Additionally, low sediment accumulation rates were observed based on the dated core. Our findings thus demonstrate that groundwater discharge and low mass accumulation rate can account for the high BSi accumulation during the last 150 cal. yr BP. Globally, lakes have been estimated to retain one fifth of the annual DSi delivery into the ocean. Well constrained lake mass balances, such as presented here, bring clarity to those estimates of the terrestrial Si cycle sinks.