Heavy Metal and Nutrient Concentrations in western Norway Lakes (September 2023)

This dataset has been analyzed in a manuscript titled “Biogeochemistry of glacial lakes in western Norway: comparison to other regional lakes and impacts of an extreme hydrological event.” This dataset provides information on heavy metal and nutrient concentrations in the water and sediment of four glacially-fed (GF) and three snow and groundwater-fed (SF) lakes near the Jostedalsbreen Ice Cap in mainland Norway during September 2023. This data was used to 1) compare the geochemistry of GF and SF lakes, 2) assess temporal patterns in heavy metals in GF lake sediments, and 3) quantify the impacts of an extreme flood event on the water chemistry of a GF lake. The overall objective was to gain a better understanding of nutrient and heavy metal concentration in GF lakes and how extreme events can alter these aquatic systems. The data showed that 1) GF lakes have elevated concentrations of some metals compared to nearby SF lakes, 2) there was little difference in heavy metal concentrations between the top and bottom sections of two GF lake cores, and 3) heavy precipitation and flood events can increase the runoff of metals and particulates from the surrounding landscape into aquatic systems. Included below are five datasets of 1) nutrient and heavy metal concentrations in the surface water, 2) heavy metal concentrations in sediment cores, 3) percent organic carbon from sediment cores, and 4) mercury concentrations in sediment cores. A dataset with information on lake characteristics and coordinates is also included.