A preliminary assessment of the geochemical dynamics of Issyk-Kul Lake, Kirghizstan

Abstract

Issyk-Kul Lake is one of the largest brackish water lakes in the world. Being a closed-basin lake, it is susceptible to volume changes caused by natural climatic variability, as well as human-induced water diversion from the basin. Long-term lake level records indicate that lake levels are declining and that salinity is increasing because of evapoconcentration. We present the first trace element data for this important lacustrine system and, using both ours and previously published data, investigate the geochemical dynamics within the watershed.