9
Advanced Approach for Synoptic Monitoring of a
Lake Ecosystem: Lake Kinneret as a Model
A. Sukenik, I. Ostrovsky, and A. Nishri
Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Kinneret Limnological
Laboratory, P.D. Box 345 Tiberias 14102 Israel. e-mail: assaf@ocean.org.il.
Tel: +972-4-672-1444 Fax: +972-4 - 671-4627
Abstract
Implementation of an underwater towed undulating monitoring system (U-TUMS)
for advanced synoptic monitoring of a lake ecosystem is demonstrated for Lake
Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). This approach facilitates fast monitoring of relatively
large and spatially heterogeneous waterbodies. Spatial distribution of several
parameters (temperature, turbidity and salinity) was revealed in Lake Kinneret by
the U-TUMS. The collected data were shown to be a useful tool in defining the
processes responsible for the observed distribution patterns, suggesting the
occurrence of internal seiching which, in tum, seemed to be the driving force for
lake internal nutrient supply to surface water layers during the stratified period.
Additionally, three-dimensional monitoring of salinity was demonstrated as a
powerful tool for identification of salinity patches in Lake Kinneret for
localization of both underwater salt springs and unfocused saline seepages.
1 Introduction
Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is a warm-monomictic lake located at about 210m
below mean sea level in the northern part of the Dead Sea Rift Valley (Fig. 1). The
lake is 22 km long and 12 km at maximum width and its surface area is 168 km 2 •
Its maximum and mean depths are 42 m and 24 m, respectively. The lake is
stratified during most of summer and autumn, with surface temperatures
approaching 30°C with anoxic and cooler hypolimnion. The main water inflow
(60-70% of the total) is the River Jordan, while the main outflow is by pumping
through Israel's National Water Carrier, supplying nearly 50% of all drinking
water in the country. Lake Kinneret serves also as a vacation and recreation center
and is used for commercial fish harvest. Thus, the conservation of the Lake
Kinneret ecosystem for future generations is of national necessity (Berman 1994).
In aquatic ecosystems, physical, chemical and biological processes are highly
dynamic and spatially heterogeneous, thus make monitoring of the entire system
very complex. The heterogeneity of ecosystems arises from various processes:
H. Rubin / P. Nachtnebel/ J. Fuerst / U. Shamir
Preserving the Quality of Our Water Resources
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2002
Advanced Approach for Synoptic Monitoring of a
Lake Ecosystem: Lake Kinneret as a Model
A. Sukenik, I. Ostrovsky, and A. Nishri
Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Kinneret Limnological
Laboratory, P.D. Box 345 Tiberias 14102 Israel. e-mail: assaf@ocean.org.il.
Tel: +972-4-672-1444 Fax: +972-4 - 671-4627
Abstract
Implementation of an underwater towed undulating monitoring system (U-TUMS)
for advanced synoptic monitoring of a lake ecosystem is demonstrated for Lake
Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). This approach facilitates fast monitoring of relatively
large and spatially heterogeneous waterbodies. Spatial distribution of several
parameters (temperature, turbidity and salinity) was revealed in Lake Kinneret by
the U-TUMS. The collected data were shown to be a useful tool in defining the
processes responsible for the observed distribution patterns, suggesting the
occurrence of internal seiching which, in tum, seemed to be the driving force for
lake internal nutrient supply to surface water layers during the stratified period.
Additionally, three-dimensional monitoring of salinity was demonstrated as a
powerful tool for identification of salinity patches in Lake Kinneret for
localization of both underwater salt springs and unfocused saline seepages.
1 Introduction
Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is a warm-monomictic lake located at about 210m
below mean sea level in the northern part of the Dead Sea Rift Valley (Fig. 1). The
lake is 22 km long and 12 km at maximum width and its surface area is 168 km 2 •
Its maximum and mean depths are 42 m and 24 m, respectively. The lake is
stratified during most of summer and autumn, with surface temperatures
approaching 30°C with anoxic and cooler hypolimnion. The main water inflow
(60-70% of the total) is the River Jordan, while the main outflow is by pumping
through Israel's National Water Carrier, supplying nearly 50% of all drinking
water in the country. Lake Kinneret serves also as a vacation and recreation center
and is used for commercial fish harvest. Thus, the conservation of the Lake
Kinneret ecosystem for future generations is of national necessity (Berman 1994).
In aquatic ecosystems, physical, chemical and biological processes are highly
dynamic and spatially heterogeneous, thus make monitoring of the entire system
very complex. The heterogeneity of ecosystems arises from various processes:
H. Rubin / P. Nachtnebel/ J. Fuerst / U. Shamir
Preserving the Quality of Our Water Resources
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2002