Carbonate Deposition in Turloughs (Seasonal Lakes) on the Western Limestone Lowlands of Ireland

Abstract

This paper describes an investigation of carbonate deposition in seasonal groundwater-fed lakes (turloughs) situated on the limestone lowland of south-east county Mayo. Chemical data from four turloughs suggest that present-day calcite deposition is due predominantly to supersaturation caused by the loss of excess carbon dioxide from the water to the atmosphere. This process occurs throughout the winter. Biological influences appear to play only a minor role, although investigations of turlough trophic status and algal biomass are required to confirm this.

Keywords:

• Freshwater carbonate deposition
• turloughs
• Co. Mayo