Biogeochemistry of sediment gases in lake Nakuru, Kenya

Abstract

Lake Nakuru is a small, shallow, alkaline-saline lake located in a closed basin, without surface outlets, in the Eastern Rift Valley, Kenya. It is located at 0° 22'S, and 36° 05'E; 1,759 m above sea level. Its water level fluctuates drastically in response to changes in rainfall and evaporation. Recent concerns on the tropospheric increase of many radiatively important trace gases has led to the need to evaluate the sources and sinks of these gases concerning the relative role of biological and environmental variables in controlling the fluxes between hydrologic, terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere.