Spatio-seasonal variability of chromophoric dissolved organic matter absorption and responses to photobleaching in a large shallow temperate lake

The development and validation of remote sensing-based approaches for the retrieval of CDOM concentrations requires a comprehensive understanding of the sources and magnitude of variability in the optical properties of dissolved material within lakes. In this study, spatial and seasonal variability in concentration and composition of CDOM and the origin of its variation was studied in Lake Balaton (Hungary), a large temperate shallow lake in central Europe. In addition, we investigated the effect of photobleaching on the optical properties of CDOM through in-lake incubation experiments. There was marked variability throughout the year in CDOM absorption in Lake Balaton (aCDOM (440) = 0.06–9.01 m−1). The highest values were consistently observed at the mouth of the main inflow (River Zala), which drains humic-rich material from the adjoining Kis-Balaton wetland, but CDOM absorption decreased rapidly towards the east where it was consistently lower and less variable than in the westernmost lake basins. The spectral slope parameter for the interval of 350–500 nm (SCDOM(350–500)) was more variable with increasing distance from the inflow (observed range 0.0161–0.0181 nm−1 for the mouth of the main inflow and 0.0158–0.0300 nm−1 for waters closer to the outflow). However, spatial variation in SCDOM was more constant exhibiting a negative correlation with aCDOM(440). DOC was strongly positively correlated with aCDOM(440) and followed a similar seasonal trend but it demonstrated more variability than either aCDOM or SCDOM with distance through the system. Photobleaching resulting from 7 days exposure to natural solar UV radiation resulted in a marked decrease in allochthonous CDOM absorption (7.04 to 3.36 m−1, 42 % decrease) and an even greater decrease in the absorption of autochthonous CDOM (1.34 to 0.312 m−1, 77 % decrease). Photodegradation also resulted in an increase in the spectral slope coefficient of dissolved material. Terrestrial subsidies of dissolved organic matter are known to exert a profound influence over the biogeochemistry and metabolism of lakes. The results from this study show that localized inputs of dissolved matter from wetlands can exert a strong influence over the spatial and seasonal dynamics of CDOM in lakes