Citation:

PANGAEA.996714 (DOI registration in progress)

Name: Salton Sea 2020-2023 Water Column Geochemistry
Published: 2026-08-28
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords: Geochemistry; Lake; sulfate reduction rates

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Published: 2026-08-28

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Abstract:

The following dataset includes water column geochemistry for the Salton Sea, a rapidly drying inland lake in California's Coachella Valley. These measurements were conducted to assess how rapid desiccation, a similar phenomenon happening to inland lakes globally, is affecting biogeochemical cycling in the lake (Yousavich et al., 2026). All measurements were conducted between 2020 and 2023, with samples collected aboard a small boat during five sampling campaigns (January 2020, August 2020, August 2021, September 2021, and November 2023). Water column samples were collected with either a Niskin bottle (2020-2022) or a peristaltic pump (2023). Water column physiochemical parameters (e.g., conductivity, temperature) and dissolved oxygen content were measured with a YSI EXO2 multi-parameter sonde.

Keyword(s):

Geochemistry; Lake; sulfate reduction rates

Related to:

Yousavich, David; Diamond, Charles; Hung, Caroline; Vetushko, George; Peng, Xuefeng; Lyons, Timothy W; Treude, Tina (2026): Biogeochemical processes in a rapidly drying inland lake, the Salton Sea. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 102884, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2026.102884

Funding:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), grant/award no. 80NSSC21K0594 : Alternative Earths – How to Build and Sustain a Detectable Biosphere

Coverage:

Median Latitude: 33.266545 * Median Longitude: -115.748000 * South-bound Latitude: 33.260000 * West-bound Longitude: -115.960000 * North-bound Latitude: 33.440000 * East-bound Longitude: -115.740000

Date/Time Start: 2020-01-08T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2023-11-16T00:00:00

Minimum DEPTH, water: 0.2 m * Maximum DEPTH, water: 10.6 m

Event(s):

SaltonSea_Aug20 * Latitude: 33.260000 * Longitude: -115.740000 * Date/Time: 2020-08-11T00:00:00

SaltonSea_Aug21 * Latitude: 33.260000 * Longitude: -115.740000 * Date/Time: 2021-08-24T00:00:00

SaltonSea_Jan20 * Latitude: 33.260000 * Longitude: -115.740000 * Date/Time: 2020-01-08T00:00:00

Parameter(s):

#	Name	Short Name	Unit	Principal Investigator	Method/Device	Comment
1	Event label	Event		Yousavich, David
2	Sample code/label	Sample label		Yousavich, David
3	LATITUDE	Latitude		Yousavich, David		Geocode
4	LONGITUDE	Longitude		Yousavich, David		Geocode
5	DEPTH, water	Depth water	m	Yousavich, David	Calculated average/mean values	Geocode
6	Depth, water, top/minimum	Depth water top	m	Yousavich, David
7	Depth, water, bottom/maximum	Depth water bot	m	Yousavich, David
8	DATE/TIME	Date/Time		Yousavich, David		Geocode
9	Nitrate	[NO3]-	µmol/l	Yousavich, David	Spectrophotometer Shimadzu UV-1800
10	Nitrite	[NO2]-	µmol/l	Yousavich, David	Spectrophotometer Shimadzu UV-1800
11	Ammonium	[NH4]+	µmol/l	Yousavich, David	Spectrophotometer Shimadzu UV-1800
12	Phosphate	[PO4]3-	µmol/l	Yousavich, David	Spectrophotometer Shimadzu UV-1800
13	Iron 2+	Fe2+	µmol/l	Yousavich, David	Spectrophotometer Shimadzu UV-1800
14	Sulfide	S2-	µmol/l	Yousavich, David	Spectrophotometer Shimadzu UV-1800
15	Sulfate	[SO4]2-	mmol/l	Yousavich, David	Ion chromatograph, Metrohm, Compact IC 761
16	Chloride	Cl-	mmol/l	Yousavich, David	Ion chromatograph, Metrohm, Compact IC 761
17	Methane	CH4	nmol/l	Yousavich, David	Gas chromatograph, GC-2014, Shimadzu; coupled with Haysep D column and a flame ionization detector
18	Conductivity	Cond	µS/cm	Diamond, Charles	Multiparameter probe, YSI Xylem Inc., EXO2
19	Oxidation reduction (RedOx) potential	Eh	mV	Diamond, Charles	Multiparameter probe, YSI Xylem Inc., EXO2
20	Chlorophyll a	Chl a	RFU	Diamond, Charles	Multiparameter probe, YSI Xylem Inc., EXO2
21	Total dissolved solids	TDS	mg/l	Diamond, Charles	Multiparameter probe, YSI Xylem Inc., EXO2
22	Turbidity (Formazin nephelometric unit)	Turbidity	FNU	Diamond, Charles	Multiparameter probe, YSI Xylem Inc., EXO2
23	Oxygen, dissolved	DO	µmol/l	Diamond, Charles	Multiparameter probe, YSI Xylem Inc., EXO2
24	Temperature, water	Temp	°C	Diamond, Charles	Multiparameter probe, YSI Xylem Inc., EXO2
25	pH	pH		Diamond, Charles	Multiparameter probe, YSI Xylem Inc., EXO2

License:

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0)

Status:

Curation Level: Enhanced curation (CurationLevelC)

Size:

514 data points

Data

Download dataset as tab-delimited text — use the following character encoding:

1 Event	2 Sample label	3 Latitude	4 Longitude	5 Depth water [m]	7 Depth water bot [m]	8 Date/Time	9 [NO3]- [µmol/l]	10 [NO2]- [µmol/l]	11 [NH4]+ [µmol/l]	12 [PO4]3- [µmol/l]	13 Fe2+ [µmol/l]	14 S2- [µmol/l]	15 [SO4]2- [mmol/l]	16 Cl- [mmol/l]	17 CH4 [nmol/l]	18 Cond [µS/cm]	19 Eh [mV]	20 Chl a [RFU]	21 TDS [mg/l]	22 Turbidity [FNU]	23 DO [µmol/l]	24 Temp [°C]	25 pH
SaltonSea_Jan20	Niskin012020	33.26	-115.74	1.0	10.5	2020-01-08	6.3	1.8				2.3	163.0
SaltonSea_Jan20	Niskin012020	33.26	-115.74	10.5	10.5	2020-01-08	5.5	1.4				1.4	166.0
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	0.2	10.5	2020-08-11										93442.8	37.4	1.66	53646.0	1.33	171.900	31.3	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	0.8	10.5	2020-08-11										91755.2	36.5	4.84	53522.0	1.77	203.800	30.7	8.20
SaltonSea_Aug20	Niskin082020	33.26	-115.74	1.0	10.5	2020-08-11						1.3	167.7	811.3
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	1.7	10.5	2020-08-11										91223.5	37.6	4.35	53516.0	1.83	199.400	30.6	8.20
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	2.7	10.5	2020-08-11										90949.9	38.5	3.77	53514.0	1.72	175.000	30.5	8.20
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	3.7	10.5	2020-08-11										90599.5	39.1	3.37	53526.0	1.61	134.700	30.4	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	4.7	10.5	2020-08-11										90035.9	35.3	2.77	53471.0	1.49	46.900	30.0	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	5.5	10.5	2020-08-11										89974.3	34.0	2.35	53476.0	1.45	43.100	29.9	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	6.5	10.5	2020-08-11										89893.8	32.1	2.01	53475.0	1.38	30.600	29.8	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug20	Niskin082020	33.26	-115.74	7.0	10.5	2020-08-11						2.7	171.1	828.1
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	7.5	10.5	2020-08-11										89884.8	31.3	1.73	53488.0	1.32	35.900	29.8	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	8.5	10.5	2020-08-11										89848.3	30.1	1.76	53483.0	1.35	32.200	29.8	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	9.5	10.5	2020-08-11										89189.8	-261.6	1.37	53455.0	5.19	1.900	29.5	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	10.4	10.5	2020-08-11										88750.9	-348.6	1.25	53651.0	1.93	0.600	28.9	8.00
SaltonSea_Aug20	Niskin082020	33.26	-115.74	10.5	10.5	2020-08-11						2.9	175.6	845.2
SaltonSea_Aug20	Sonde082020	33.26	-115.74	10.6	10.5	2020-08-11										88750.6	-360.6	1.17	53657.0	1.92	0.300	28.9	8.00
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	0.2	10.5	2021-08-24										91221.3	30.3	2.04	53727.0	1.29	196.300	31.8	8.17
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	0.7	10.5	2021-08-24										90817.6	35.2	4.99	53549.0	1.82	246.300	31.0	8.18
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	1.8	10.5	2021-08-24										90482.5	38.2	5.59	53532.0	1.98	234.700	30.7	8.17
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	2.7	10.5	2021-08-24										90299.8	40.6	4.00	53522.0	1.67	153.400	30.4	8.13
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	3.7	10.5	2021-08-24										90264.7	40.4	2.88	53511.0	1.50	81.900	30.1	8.11
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	4.6	10.5	2021-08-24										90178.1	39.1	2.23	53474.0	1.40	44.700	29.9	8.10
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	5.6	10.5	2021-08-24										90228.2	37.7	2.09	53480.0	1.35	38.400	29.9	8.09
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	6.8	10.5	2021-08-24										90213.5	36.6	1.81	53489.0	1.27	35.900	29.9	8.09
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	7.6	10.5	2021-08-24										90241.9	35.7	1.71	53489.0	1.28	35.600	29.8	8.09
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	8.5	10.5	2021-08-24										90538.1	33.6	1.63	53488.0	1.42	16.900	29.8	8.08
SaltonSea_Aug21	Sonde082021	33.26	-115.74	10.5	10.5	2021-08-24										90821.3	-318.3	1.04	53659.0	1.82	1.900	28.9	8.02
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	0.5	10.5	2021-09-22										97329.9	56.1	3.55	53781.0	1.70	247.812	32.4	8.19
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	0.5	10.5	2021-09-22	0.0	0.0	22.0	4.1	0.0	2.8	162.0	665.0
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	0.6	10.5	2021-09-22										97055.1	55.9	7.42	53533.0	2.17	300.000	31.2	8.18
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	1.0	10.5	2021-09-22						2.8
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	1.7	10.5	2021-09-22										95751.9	55.6	6.32	53525.0	2.07	255.937	30.7	8.17
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	2.0	10.5	2021-09-22						2.8
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	2.7	10.5	2021-09-22										95259.7	55.6	4.54	53510.0	1.86	180.938	30.5	8.14
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	3.0	10.5	2021-09-22						3.0
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	3.7	10.5	2021-09-22										95186.4	53.1	2.95	53524.0	1.56	104.688	30.2	8.11
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	4.0	10.5	2021-09-22						2.6
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	4.7	10.5	2021-09-22										95152.9	50.0	2.16	53469.0	1.36	42.500	29.9	8.09
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	5.0	10.5	2021-09-22						2.6
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	5.6	10.5	2021-09-22										95152.7	48.7	2.12	53475.0	1.32	38.438	29.9	8.08
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	6.0	10.5	2021-09-22						2.6
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	6.6	10.5	2021-09-22										95022.3	47.7	1.75	53483.0	1.31	34.688	29.9	8.08
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	7.0	10.5	2021-09-22						4.8
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	7.6	10.5	2021-09-22										94743.6	46.3	1.59	53484.0	1.28	32.812	29.8	8.08
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	8.0	10.5	2021-09-22						3.4
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	8.5	10.5	2021-09-22										94717.7	44.6	1.42	53488.0	1.34	19.688	29.8	8.08
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	9.0	10.5	2021-09-22						2.7
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	9.5	10.5	2021-09-22										94685.6	-290.6	1.19	53627.0	1.98	2.812	29.2	8.02
SaltonSea_Sep21	Niskin092021	33.26	-115.74	10.0	10.5	2021-09-22						2.8
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	10.3	10.5	2021-09-22										94676.6	-318.3	1.15	53664.0	1.88	1.875	28.9	8.01
SaltonSea_Sep21	Sonde092021	33.26	-115.74	10.5	10.5	2021-09-22										94671.6	-326.5	1.11	53672.0	2.90	1.562	28.9	8.00
SaltonSea_Nov23	Pump112023	33.44	-115.96	1.0	10.5	2023-11-16	2.2	0.2	31.5	4.3	0.0	2.6	210.0	782.0	52.0
SaltonSea_Nov23	Pump112023	33.44	-115.96	10.5	10.5	2023-11-16	2.5	0.2	25.3	4.6	0.0	1.8	198.0	715.0	113.0