Flume simulation of wave-induced release of internal dissolved nitrogen in Taihu Lake, China

A wave flume simulator was used to study internal nitrogen release from the surface sediment collected from Taihu Lake, China. Particulate nitrogen concentrations were positively correlated with the concentrations of suspended solids, primarily from surface erosion related to the shear stress and duration of wave action. In response to 4 cm- and 10 cm-high wave production representing waves generated in Taihu Lake by gentle and gusty winds, respectively, the mean dynamic release rate of ammonium (NH (4) (+) ) from the sediment to the overlying water was 1x10(-3) mg/(m(2)center dot s) and the NH (4) (+) concentration in the overlying water increased by 0.016 mg/L, indicating that waves resulting from strong wind can induce the rapid release of dissolved nitrogen from Taihu Lake sediments. The decrease in interstitial NH (4) (+) concentrations at all sediment depths was associated with an increase in NH (4) (+) concentrations in the overlying water by 0.01 mg/L, showing that sediment below the eroded layer was the main source of internal nitrogen release. Changes in the interstitial dissolved oxygen and NH (4) (+) concentrations showed that wave-induced pore water movement can greatly increase the diffusion rate, and that these effects can influence the sediment to a depth of at least 15 cm. Diffusion induced by pore water movement may be very important for the formation of an active sediment layer in Taihu Lake.