The relation between sulfur and carbon in sediments from the English lakes

STUDIES WERE MADE OF 5 LAKES IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT: WASTWATER AND ENNERDALE WATER ARE UNPRODUCTIVE DEEP LAKES, WINDERMERE IS A DEEP LAKE OF MODERATE PRODUCTIVITY, ESTHWAITE WATER IS A SHALLOW PRODUCTIVE LAKE, AND PRIEST POT IS A VERY PRODUCTIVE POND. LIME AND POTASH CONTENTS INCREASE, AS DETERMINED FROM SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM THE UPPERMOST 5-10 CM OF BOTTOM SEDIMENTS, IN THE SEQUENCE IN WHICH THE LAKES ARE LISTED TO A MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION IN THE WATERS OF PRIEST POT. THE CARBON/SULFUR RATIO IS HIGHER IN THE OXIDIZING MUDS THAN IN THE REDUCING MUDS. THE SURFACE LAYER OF WINDERMERE MUD WAS FOUND TO BE CONTINUALLY OXIDIZING WHILE THAT IN ESTHWAITE WATER BECAME A REDUCING MUD EACH SUMMER. SULFATE SULFUR MAY PRECIPITATE AS SULFIDE FROM THE LAKE WATER INTO MUD WHEN THE REDOX POTENTIAL IS LOW; IT IS REDUCED AND PRECIPITATED AS SULFIDE IN THE MUD. CARBON AND SULFUR ARE MORE ABUNDANT IN THE SEDIMENTS OF PRODUCTIVE LAKES THAN IN THOSE OF INFERTILE NONPRODUCTIVE LAKES, ALTHOUGH THE CARBON/SULFUR RATIOS ARE MUCH HIGHER IN THE LATTER. THE LOW CARBON/SULFUR RATIOS IN THE PRODUCTIVE LAKES ARE RELATED TO THEIR REDUCING INTENSITY, WHICH INCREASES THE TOTAL SULFUR FIXATION. ESTHWAITE WATER SHOWED MAXIMUM PERCENTAGES OF CARBON IN A ZONE JUST ABOVE THE GLACIAL CLAY, INDICATING A MORE PRODUCTIVE EARLIER STAGE. (BYRNE-WISC)