Nitrogen source-sink characteristics and controlling factors across the ice-water-sediment interfaces during the ice-covered period in Lake Daihai

HOU Chen-li; LI Yang; YIN Zhen-yu; LI Wei-ping; YAO Zhi; YU Sheng-qian; XING Xiu-ming

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China Environmental Science ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1) : 309-318.

Nitrogen source-sink characteristics and controlling factors across the ice-water-sediment interfaces during the ice-covered period in Lake Daihai

HOU Chen-li¹, LI Yang¹, YIN Zhen-yu¹, LI Wei-ping¹, YAO Zhi¹, YU Sheng-qian¹, XING Xiu-ming²

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Abstract

Lake Daihai remains ice-covered for approximately one-third of the year, forming a multi-media system comprising ice, water, and sediment. To clarify the migration patterns of nutrients at the ice-water-sediment interfaces, a systematic study was conducted on the spatiotemporal distribution, source-sink characteristics, and driving factors of nitrogen nutrients in the three phases (ice, water, sediment) before the freezing period (October) and during the freezing period (January, February). The results revealed significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity of nitrogen nutrients across the media. Total nitrogen (TN) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) concentrations increased slightly in the ice layer. The TN concentration in the lower ice layer was higher in February than in January, with the lower ice layer exhibiting higher concentrations compared to other layers. From pre-freezing to late freezing periods, TN and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N) concentrations continuously increased in the water and sediment. The NO₃^--N concentration in the water increased by 62.5% between January and February. Spatially, TN and NH₄⁺-N concentrations in the sediment were generally higher in the central area and lower in the eastern part, and overall exceeded those in the under-ice water. During the freezing period, the fractionation coefficients followed the order: NO₃^--N< TN <NH₄⁺-N. At the ice-water interface, NO₃^--N dominated TN migration, with a higher flux observed in January than in February. Sediment acted as a "source" for TN and NH₄⁺-N, but as a "sink" for NO₃^--N. The flux of nitrogen nutrients at the ice-water interface had a greater impact on their concentrations than the sediment-water interface flux. The dynamic changes of nutrients in the water were jointly influenced by the freezing-induced salt rejection effect and endogenous sediment release. Key environmental drivers for the distribution and migration of nitrogen nutrients before and during the freezing period included ice growth rate, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and water temperature.

Key words

Lake Daihai / ice-covered period / nutrients / exchange flux / migration simulation

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HOU Chen-li, LI Yang, YIN Zhen-yu, LI Wei-ping, YAO Zhi, YU Sheng-qian, XING Xiu-ming. Nitrogen source-sink characteristics and controlling factors across the ice-water-sediment interfaces during the ice-covered period in Lake Daihai[J]. China Environmental Science. 2026, 46(1): 309-318

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