The influence of the thermocline on sedimentation in the deeper part of Lake Kinneret, Israel

Two sediment traps were installed in the central part of Lake Kinneret (Israel); the lower trap was located 15.5 m and the upper one 26 m above the lake bottom. The reason for these heights is that during the stratification period the upper one is the epilimnion and the lower one is in the hypolimnion. The collected sediment was analysed for organic matter, CaCO₃ and alumosilicates. In the two years of research the flux of sediments in the upper trap was higher by 5.5% in the first year and 8.7% in the second. During the lake stratification period (the summer), sedimentation rates were higher in the epilimnion (upper trap), whereas during the mixing period they were higher in the hypolimnion (lower trap). The main component of the sediment is calcite. Maximum sedimentation of calcite occurs due to intensive photosynthesis during the bloom period of Peridinium gatunense.