Gregor Muri
National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Branko Čermelj, Jadran Faganeli
Marine Biological Station, Fornače 41, 6330 Piran, Slovenia
Janez Holc
Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
 

ABSTRACT

A thermal oxidation method was used to determine black carbon (BC) distribution in recent lacustrine sediments in four remote alpine lakes, i.e. Lake Krisko Sup., Lake Ledvica, Lake Krn and Lake Planina, in subalpine Lake Bled and in the coastal marine sediment in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic). Additionally, total carbon, organic carbon (OC) and total sulphur were also analysed. Sedimentation rates were determined by measuring 210Pb activity. The lowest BC/OC ratios were noted in remote mountain lakes, ranging between 5-8% and depending upon precipitation amount. In Lake Bled, the BC/OC ratio increased to 10%, but the highest BC/OC ratio was determined in the Gulf of Trieste, reaching 17%. A difference between atmospheric deposition input of BC into sediments in remote, clean areas and surface runoff and riverine input of BC in urbanised, polluted areas is clearly seen.