Physicochemical Limnology of Meromictic Saline Lake Sophia, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

The basic physicochemical characteristics of a Canadian High Arctic deep meromictic and mesothermic lake with an open drainage system are presented. The monimolimnetic salinity of Lake Sophia reaches 58 ± and its mid-water temperature is perennially at 12°C. This type lake is most commonly found in Antarctica, while so far only two have been reported from the Canadian Arctic.The salts of the monimolimnion seem to have originated during the postglacial marine submergence mainly from marine waters trapped within the ancient lake basin and beneath the surface of the area. It is most likely that the concentration of salts by freezing-out of ions from the underground relict pore seawater was progressively brought about by the encroachment of permafrost on the newly uplifted lake surrounding. The water insulating layer could have caused the formation of a talik beneath the lake basin, which subsequently favored the displacement of the underground saline water toward the bottom of the lake. With time, some of th...