Figure 7
From: Intermittent meromixis controls the trophic state of warming deep lakes
Conceptual illustration of the combined effects of eutrophication and climate forcing on lake trophy. In the holomictic case, stratification first separates epi- and hypolimnion (shades of blue) and transports P from deep waters to the surface upon yearly mixing (green arrow). More P may be transported when larger shares of deep sediments are in anoxic waters. A shift towards warming-induced meromixis could first induce a non-linear response: surface re-oligotrophication together with persistent deep-water anoxia. However, nutrient accumulation in the deep waters bears the potential to trigger episodes of high productivity when meromixis suddenly retreats, allowing surface waters to mix deeper (yellow arrow), as for example during an exceptionally cold winter.
