Chemical, Hydrological and Climatological Properties of Lake Agmon, Hula Valley (Israel), (1994-2006)

Abstract

The first decade of monitoring program in Lake Agmon (Hula Valley, Northern Israel) is summarized. The presented part of the program include: water discharges, physico-chemical (pH, EC, Temperature) and chemical parameters (TP, TN, TDN, TDP, NO3, NH4, SO4, TDS, TSS,). It was found that Nitrogen concentrations decline from north to south and the opposite for Phosphorus. Resulting of re-suspension by wind direction of western-southern-eastern and averaged maximal velocities of 9 - 10 m/s is suggested. De-nitrification and particles sedimentation emphasize Lake Agmon as a sink for Nitrogen. Sulfate-Carbonates association and the production of precipitated Gypsum (CaSO4) highlight the sink property of Lake Agmon. Nevertheless Sulfate removal by the Lake Agmon hydrological system is significant.