Aquatic Systems Sediments and Lake Water
Challenges
Sediments
Sediments are the storage compartments of aquatic ecosystems. Since water bodies are downstream of land and the atmosphere, they are the ultimate sinks for the products of human and biogeochemical activity. Sediment quality is a barometer of human impact on the atmosphere, land, and water. The evidence for many long-term environmental trends comes primarily from sediments.- Sediments are analyzed for a wide variety of purposes, such as to understand lake history through paleolimnology, to determine their roles as nutrient or contaminant sinks or sources, to assess sediment quality of dredged material, or to monitor the responses of aquatic systems to remediation or natural recovery.
- Almost all sediment studies require both physical and chemical characterization. Particle size distribution, water content, total organic matter or carbon content, nitrogen, and phosphorus are commonly determined.
- Although sediment contamination can be a financial liability, clean sediments have no direct commercial value. Environmental monitoring is usually publically funded and tends to be funded to variable levels over time.
- Analytical methods that are inexpensive, easy to operate, rapid, and, if possible, portable, could enhance environmental monitoring capability, including the collection of long-term records that are so important to discerning subtle, regional and global human impacts from the variability due to natural, long-term background biogeochemical cycles.
Lake Water
- Conventional monitoring of seasonal changes in water quality generally involves sampling of water every week or every two weeks, often from a variety of water depths. This produces a large number of samples for chemical analysis. The high overall costs of analysis often limits the number of lakes that can be sampled, the spatial coverage within a lake, and the duration of the monitoring. There is often a considerable delay before results are available reducing the potential for the results to be used for short-term decision-making.
PDK explores the feasibility of using NIRS as a rapid, potentially-portable, cost-effective technology for the analysis of sediments and the suspended material from lake water for a variety of physical, chemical, and biological parameters.
Projects
- Rapid determination of C, N, and P in sediments.
- Library of sediment spectra from water bodies of varying salinity, trophic status, geographical position (latitude), and from various sediment types, water depths, and core depths.
- Possibility of predicting biological remains in cores.
- Feasibility of determining concentrations and distribution coefficients of metals in sediments.
- Determination of C, N, and P in suspended material from water of lakes of varying trophic status.
- Determination of C, N, P, and cadmium in a selected size fraction of suspended material from a lake receiving experimental additions of cadmium.
Funding
International Environmental Youth Corp Internship to Pascal Badiou from the Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry (1999-2000)
Partners/Collaborators
- Experimental Lakes Area Observatory, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg
- Analytical Methods Development Laboratory, Canadian Grain Research Laboratory, Canadian Grain Commission, Winnipeg
References for the analysis of sediments and suspended material in water using NIRS
Primary Publications
Dåbakk, E., M. Nilsson, P. Geladi, S. Wold and I. Renberg. 1999. Sampling reproducibility and error estimation in near infrared calibration of lake sediments for water quality monitoring. J. NIR spectroscopy 7, 241-250.
Dåbakk, E., Nilsson, M., Geladi, P., Wold, S., and Renberg, I. 2000. Inferring lake water chemistry from filtered seston using NIR spectrometry. Water Research 34:1666-1672.
de Medeiros, V. M., et al. 2005. Screening analysis of river seston downstream of an effluent discharge point using near-infrared reflectance spectrometry and wavelet-based spectral region selection. Water Research 39: 3089-3097.
Geladi, P. and Dåbakk, E. 1995. An overview of chemometrics applications in near- infrared spectrometry. Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy 3:119-132.
Hood, J.M., S. Brovold, R.W. Sterner, M. Villar-Argaiz, and K.D. Zimmer. 2006. Near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) for the analysis of seston carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from diverse sources. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods 4: 94-104.
Korsman, T., M.B. Nilsson, K. Landgren, and I. Renberg. 1999. Spatial variability in surface sediment composition characterised by near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy. J. Paleolimnology 21, 61-71.
Korsman, T., M. Nilsson, J. Ohman, and I. Renberg. 1992. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy of sediments: A potential method to infer the past pH of lakes. Environmental Science and Technology 26: 2122-2126.
Malley, D.F. 1998. Near-infrared spectroscopy as a potential method for routine sediment analysis to improve rapidity and efficiency. Water Science and Technology 37: 181-188.
Malley, D.F., S.G. Lawrence, M.H. Holoka and P.C. Williams. 1996. Applying near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy to measure carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic-bound cadmium in lake picoplankton. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health 5: 135-147
Malley, D.F., L. Lockhart, P. Wilkinson and B. Hauser. 2000. Determination of carbon, carbonate, nitrogen, and phosphorus in freshwater sediments by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy: rapid analysis and a check on conventional analytical methods. Journal of Paleolimnology 24: 415-425. Abstract (link opens in new window)
Malley, D.F. and M. Nilsson. 1995. Environmental applications of near infrared spectroscopy: Seeing the environment in a different light. Spectroscopy Europe 7(6): 8-16.
Malley, D.F., H. Rönicke, D.L. Findlay, and B. Zippel. 1999. Feasibility of using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy for the analysis of C, N, P, and diatoms in lake sediments. Journal of Paleolimnology 21: 295-306
Malley, D.F. & P.C. Williams, 1997. Use of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy in prediction of heavy metals in freshwater sediment by their association with organic matter. Environ. Sci. Technol. 31: 3461-3467.
Malley, D.F., P. C. Williams, B. W. Hauser and J. Hall. 1996. Prediction of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in freshwater sediments using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. pp 691-699. In A.M.C. Davies and Phil Williams (Eds). Near Infrared Spectroscopy: The Future Waves. NIR Publications, Chichester U.K.
Malley, D.F., P.C. Williams and M. P. Stainton. 1996. Rapid measurement of suspended C, N, and P from Precambrian Shield lakes using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Water Research 30: 1325-1332.
Malley, D.F., P.C. Williams, M.P. Stainton and B.W. Hauser. 1993. Application of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy in the measurement of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in seston from oligotrophic lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 50: 1779-1785.
Nilsson, M.B., E. Dåbakk, T. Korsman and I. Renberg, 1996. Quantifying relationships between near-infrared reflectance spectra of lake sediments and water chemistry. Environ. Sci. Technol. 30: 2586-2590.
Rosén, P., E. Dåbakk, I. Renberg, M. Nilsson and R. Hall. 2000. Near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS): a new tool for inferring past climatic changes from lake sediments. The Holocene 10, 161-166.
Schalles, J.F., A.A.Gitelson, Y.Z. Yacobi and A.E. Kroenke. 1998. Estimation of chlorophyll a from time series measurements of high spectral resolution reflectance in an eutrophic lake. Journal of Physiology 34 (2) 383-390
Schalles, J.F. and Y.Z. Yacobi. 2000. Remote detection and seasonal patterns of phycocyanin, carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments in eutrophic waters.Ergebnisse der Limnologie 55: 153-168.
Book Chapter
Korsman, T., Dåbakk, E., Nilsson, M. and Renberg, I. 2001. Near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) in paleolimnology. In: W.M. Last and J.P. Smol (eds.) Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments, Volume 2: Physical and Chemical Techniques. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrect. pp. 299-318.
Thesis
Dåbakk, E. 1999. Near infrared spectrometry - a potential method of environmental monitoring of aquatic systems. Thesis, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Non-refereed Publications and Conference Proceedings
Badiou, P, D. Malley, M. Paterson, and M. Stainton. 2000. Use of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy as a tool for monitoring sediment and water chemistry. pp 54 - 61. Proceedings for the 43nd Annual Meeting of the Manitoba Soil Science Society, January 25-26, 2000.
Dåbakk, E., I. Renberg, and M. Nilsson 1999. Outlines of an environmental stream monitoring method based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). In E. Dåbakk. Near-infrared spectrometry - a potential method for environmental monitoring of aquatic systems. Research Group for Chemometrics, Department of Organic Chemistry, Umeå University. 24 pp + iv.
Doorenweerd, P.W.R. and G.L.J. Haaij 1997. International Conference on Contaminated Sediments: Restoration and Management, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 7-11 September 1997. Preprints, Volume II, p. 1045-1052 (1997).
Malley, D.F. 2002. Emerging possibilities for NIRS to contribute to environmental analysis. p. 391-398. In. R.K. Cho and A.M.C. Davies (Eds) Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference, NIR Publications. Norwich UK.
Malley, D.F. 1997. Application of near-infrared spectroscopy to the routine analysis of sediment. International Conference on Contaminated Sediments: Restoration and Management, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 7-11 September 1997. Preprints Volume II: 781-788.
Malley, D.F and P. Badiou. 2000. Near-infrared spectroscopy as a tool for the comprehensive analysis of lake sediments. pp 187 - 194. Proceedings for the 43nd Annual Meeting of the Manitoba Soil Science Society, January 25-26, 2000
Malley, D.F., J. Delaronde, L.J. Wesson, S. Friesen, and P.C. Williams. 1997. Exploring heavy metal - organic matter associations in Lake 382 using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and principal component analysis. p 68-69. In R.C. Pierce and D. Williams. Book of Abstracts: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Green Plan Toxic Chemicals Program, Wrap-up Conference, Government Conference Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, January 28-31, 1997. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2163: xiv + 93 p.
Malley, D.F. and M. Nilsson. 1996. Environmental applications of near infrared spectroscopy: seeing the environment in a different light. NIR News 7(1): 10-13 (Invited; modified from Spectroscopy Europe article).
Malley, D.F. and P.C. Williams. 1997. Rapid simultaneous quantitative and qualitative analysis of organic matter in sediments by near-infrared spectroscopy. pp. 40-41. In. J.S. Goudey, S.M. Swanson, M.D. Treissman, and A.J. Niimi (eds). Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop: October 7-9, 1996, Calgary, Alberta. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2144.
Malley, D.F., P.C. Williams, B.W. Hauser and J. Hall. 1996. Prediction of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in freshwater sediments using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. pp 691-699. In A.M.C. Davies and Phil Williams (Eds). Near Infrared Spectroscopy: The Future Waves. NIR Publications, Chichester U.K.
Malley, D.F., P.C. Williams, L.J. Wesson, and B. Hauser. 1995. Rapid measurement of organic C, N, and P in freshwater sediments using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. pp 41. Papers presented at the 38th Annual Manitoba Society of Soil Science Meeting, 3-4 January 1997.
Nilsson, M., T. Korsman, E. Dabakk, and I. Renberg. 1998. What can near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy add to the analysis of the environment? pp 417-422. Proceedings of the Second Biennial International Conference on Chemical Measurement and Monitoring of the Environment, EnviroAnalysis98 Conference, Ottawa, 11-14 May 1998
Norio, S., B. Wei and T. Maekawa. 2001. Evaluation method for polluted lake water by monitoring system. Paper No. 012219, 2001 ASAE Annual Meeting.
Professional Presentations
Malley, D.F. and P. H. Badiou. 2000. Rapid analysis of nutrients and metals in Lake Winnipeg sediments. Presentation to Environment Canada Nutrients and Ecological Impacts Workshop, 10-11 May 2000, Winnipeg MB.
Conference Presentations
Badiou, P., D.F. Malley, and L.G. Goldsborough. 2001. Star Trek technology for the analysis of wetland sediments. North American Benthological Society Annual Meeting, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 2001.
Badiou, P, D. Malley, M. Paterson, and M. Stainton. 2000. Use of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy as a tool for monitoring sediment and water chemistry. Society of Canadian Limnologists Annual Meeting, 6-8 January 2000, Fredericton, NB and 43nd Annual Meeting of the Manitoba Soil Science Society, 25-26 January 2000, Winnipeg MB.
Malley, D.F. 1997. Application of near-infrared spectroscopy to the routine analysis of sediment. International Conference on Contaminated Sediments: Restoration and Management, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 7-11 September.
Malley, D.F. 1997. Near-infrared spectroscopy and the environment: Progressing from research to environmental monitoring and commercial applications. 8th International Conference on Near-infrared Spectroscopy, Essen, Germany, 15-18 September. (Invited plenary presentation).
Malley, D.F. 1998. Sampling and sampling preparation for environmental applications of NIR. Presentation at 9
th International Diffuse Reflectance Conference, Wilson College, Chambersburg PA, 8-14 August 1998.
Malley, D.F. and P. Badiou. 1999. Near-infrared spectroscopy as a tool for the comprehensive analysis of lake sediments. Poster at International Conference on Tropical Aquatic Ecosystems: Health, Management and Conservation, Naintal, India, 25-30 October 1999
Malley, D.F and P.H. Badiou. 2002. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy for the rapid quantitative and qualitative analysis of sediments: Organic matter and nutrients in Lake Winnipeg. Presentation at 45th Conference on Great Lakes Research, International
Association of Great Lakes Research. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, 2-6 June 2002.
Malley, D.F., P. Badiou, T. Murphy, and M. Kumagai. 2000. Potential for sediment quality monitoring in Lake Biwa, Japan, using near-infrared spectroscopy. Poster at Sediment Quality Assessment 2000, 24-27 October 2000, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.
Malley, D.F., J. DeLaronde, P.C. Williams and C. Gobeil. 1995. Measurement of organic C, N, and P in sediments from water bodies of varying salinity. NIR-95 Conference, Montreal, 6-11 August.
Malley, D.F., S.G. Lawrence, M.H. Holoka and P.C. Williams. 1995. Measurement of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and organics binding cadmium in the 0.1 to 3 μm size fraction from lake water by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Poster presented at 4th International Conference on Aquatic Ecosystem Health: Integrated/Multitrophic Strategies - Microbes to Fish. Coimbra, Portugal, 14-18 May; and NIR-95 Conference, Montreal, 6-11 August.
Malley, D.F., L. Lockhart, P. Wilkinson, B. Hauser, and D. Spurr. 1998. Rapid, cost-effective analysis of C, N, and P in sediment cores by near-infrared spectroscopy: Results for four Canadian lakes. Abstract submitted to 18th International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta, 10-13 November 1998.
Malley, D.F., L. Lockhart, P. Wilkinson, B. Hauser, and D. Spurr. 1998. Application of near infrared spectroscopy for the determination of total C, organic C, carbonate, N, and P in sediment cores from four lakes spanning 18 degrees of latitude in Canada. Presentation at Third Sediment Quality Assessment Symposium, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 16-19 August 1998.
Malley, D.F., P.D. Martin, P. H. Badiou, and L.A. Mathias. 2001. Making waves in environmental analysis: Field-portable near-infrared spectroscopy for on-site and potentially real-time multi-constituent analysis. Poster at 6th International Conference of the Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society (AEHMS), "Aquatic Ecosystem Health: Barometer of Integrity and Sustainable Development", Amsterdam, 4-7 November 2001.
Malley, D.F., and P.C. Williams. 1996. Rapid simultaneous quantitative and qualitative analysis of organic matter in sediments by near-infrared spectroscopy. Presentation at 23rd Aquatic Toxicity Workshop, Calgary AB, 6-10 October.
Malley, D.F., P.C. Williams, J. Delaronde and L.J. Wesson. 1996-97. Use of near-infrared spectroscopy and principal component analysis as a tool for detecting heavy-metal organic matter associations. Poster at Ecotox Workshop: Environmental Contaminants in Sediments, Soil, Water, Biota: Is Analytical Availability the same as Bioavailability? Hotel Fort Garry, Winnipeg MB, 16-19 June 1996; at 8th International Diffuse Reflectance Conference, Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA, 11-16 August 1996; and at Second International Symposium on Sediment Quality Assessment, Verbania Pallanza, Italy, 15-19 September 1996; and DFO Green Plan Toxic Chemicals Wrap-up Conference, Ottawa ON, 27-31 January 1997.
Malley, D.F., P.C. Williams, J. Delaronde, L.J. Wesson and S. Friesen. 1996. Prediction of heavy metal concentrations in freshwater sediments by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy: What is the instrument seeing? 39th Annual Manitoba Society of Soil Science Meeting, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, MB, 3-4 January.
Malley, D.F., P.C. Williams, B. Hauser and J. Hall. 1994. Feasibility of using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy for the determination of organic matter in sandy, littoral sediments. Poster presented at First International Symposium on Sediment Quality Assessment, Goteborg, Sweden, 21-24 August.
Malley, D.F., P.C. Williams, L.J. Wesson and B. Hauser. 1995. Rapid measurement of organic C, N, and P in freshwater sediments using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. 38th Annual Meeting, Manitoba Society of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, 3-4 January.
Williams, P.C. and D.F. Malley. 1996. Applications of near infrared spectroscopy in environmental studies. 8th International Diffuse Reflectance Conference, Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA, 11-16 August.
Other Publications
Meurens, M., P. Van den Eynde, and M. Vanbelle. 1987. Fine analysis of liquids by NIR reflectance of dry extract on solid support (DESIR). p 297-302. In J. Hollo, K.J. Kaffka, and J.L. Gonczy (eds.), Near-infrared diffuse reflectance/transmittance spectroscopy. Proceedings of the International NIR/NIT Conference. 12-16 May 1986, Budapest, Hungary, Akademiai Kiado, Budapest. (This paper demonstrated that suspended matter in water could be analyzed using NIRS if the material were applied to glass fibre filters and dried.)