Spatial and temporal variations of eutrophication in Western Chaohu Lake, China

Abstract

Chaohu Lake is one of the five largest fresh lakes in China. Now it is one of the three most eutrophic lakes of China attracting more and more attention in the world-wide-concern. From Zhongmiao Temple to Qitouzui Cape, the lake is divided into two parts. The eutrophication state of the lake western part is more serious than that of the eastern part, mainly because the former is the final place of industrial and municipal wastewater from Hefei City, the capital of Anhui Province. Through six routine national sampling sites of the Western Chaohu Lake, we analyzed the yearly variation of eutrophication from 1984 to 2004, the monthly variation from 2001 to 2004 and the spatial distribution and variation of the six sampling sites in the year 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 with Trophic State Index (TSI). The main reasons for Chaohu Lake eutrophication and the spatial and temporal variations of eutrophication in Western Chaohu Lake were discussed.