A study of physicochemical characterization of Urmia Lake (A comparative approach)
Baharak Sehatnia1*, Alireza Asem2,3 and Amin Eimanifar4
1) Artemia and Aquatic Animals Research Institute, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
2)Protectors of Urmia Lake National Park Society (NGO), Urmia, Iran
2) West Bio-Processor Inc., Urmia, Iran
3) Iranian Artemia Research Center, Urmia, Iran
Summary:
Urmia Lake, located in northwest Iran, is the largest lake in Iran and the 20th largest lake in the world. In addition to seasonal fluctuations in area, it has undergone a significant decrease in size in recent years. Its area was ~5500 km2 in 1995 and subsequently decreased to 4304 km2 in 2003-04. The average salinity of the lake was 168 ppt in 1995 and increased to 275 ppt in 2003-04. According to a previous study, the lake has been salinity stratified in the spring but not significantly in autumn. Ionic structure of the lake consists of Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Cl-, SO42-, HCO3- and Br-. Comparing the ionic concentration (w/w%) of the Great Salt Lake with Urmia Lake shows that, the concentrations of Cl-, SO42-, Mg2+, K+ in Great Salt Lake are 1.3, 2, 2 and 5.8 times more than Urmia Lake. However, Ca2+ concentration in Urmia Lake is 3.75 times more than in the Great Salt Lake. Na+ concentration is similar.
