Northwestern Ontario Lake Water Chemistry from 1987 and 1990

Water chemistry data from five lakes in Northwestern Ontario, collected in 1987 and 1990. The dataset includes measurements for nitrogen and phosphorus species, carbon, chlorophyll a, conductivity, silica, chloride, sulphate, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, pH, alkalinity, and organic acids. It was gathered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as part of the Northwestern Ontario Lake Size Series project.

Use Cases

• Analyze concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus species across lakes to assess nutrient loading and eutrophication risk.
• Model relationships between pH, alkalinity, and calcium/magnesium concentrations to study lake acidification and buffering capacity.
• Examine spatial and temporal patterns in chlorophyll a levels as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass in relation to nutrient data.
• Compare conductivity and ion concentrations (sodium, potassium, chloride, sulphate) to infer geological influences on water chemistry.

Strengths

• Data includes a wide range of chemical parameters (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll a, major ions) for a holistic water quality profile.
• Covers a specific geographic region (five lakes in Northwestern Ontario) allowing for comparative limnological studies.
• Contains measurements from two distinct sampling years (1987 and 1990), enabling analysis of potential changes over time.

Limitations

• The dataset is limited to only five lakes, which may not be representative of the broader region's limnology.
• Data is temporally sparse, with only two sampling years over a four-year period, limiting long-term trend analysis.
• The sample size (number of rows) and specific measurement frequency per lake are unknown, affecting statistical power assessment.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Field collection as part of the Northwestern Ontario Lake Size Series project.

Time Range

1987 and 1990

Freshness

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Geography

Five lakes in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.