Seasonal Mixing and Genesis of Endogenic Meromixis in Small Lakes in Southeast Norway

The inland region of Southeast Norway contains many lakes with endogenic meromixis. A synoptic study of seasonal mixing was conducted in 27 oligo- and mesotrophic lakes with surface area 0.0013 – 7.4 km² and water colour 2-146 Hazen units. The scope was to identify properties of morphometric, optical and chemical nature that lead to development of endogenic meromixis. The summer mixing depths were found to depend on lake area and water colour. Small lakes (< 0.3 km²) were incompletely aerated during the spring circulation and had hypolimnetic temperatures near the temperature of maximum density throughout the summer stagnation. Insubstantial autumn mixing is considered the primary reason lakes in this area develop meromixis. Iron and manganese concentrations in anoxic deep waters depend on concentrations in the sediments and on accumulation of dissolved inorganic carbon in the deep waters. Development of endogenic meromixis is favoured by iron concentration in the sediment more than 5% of dry weight and manganese more than 0.5% of dry weight.