Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2012AR337B

The effect of global climate change on algal biomass and total organic carbon concentrations in Beaver Lake

Institute: Arkansas
Year Established: 2012 Start Date: 2012-03-01 End Date: 2013-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $45,108 Total Non-Federal Funds: $101,300

Principal Investigators: Jefferson Scott

Project Summary: Elevated total organic carbon concentrations (TOC) in lake water can result in greater production of chlorination byproducts during the drinking water treatment process. One major control on TOC in water is the amount of algal biomass, which is generally controlled by nutrient concentrations and light availability in the lake. However, global climate change may be slightly elevating the concentration of dissolved CO2 in lake water, which could increase the amount of carbon fixed into biomass per unit nutrient (i.e. increase nutrient use efficiency). The purpose of this study is to determine is expected CO2 concentrations in Beaver Lake, Arkansas over the next 50 years may result in elevated TOC in the lake due to increased nutrient use efficiency by algae.