Limnic

Limnic is an adjective relating to lakes or to limnology, the science of inland aquatic ecosystems. The term is derived from limn-, from the Greek limnē, meaning lake.

In scientific use, limnic describes phenomena, environments, or processes associated with lakes. Limnic environments include freshwater bodies such as lakes and ponds, including the stratified layers of lakes, aquatic habitats, and the limnetic zone—the open-water region away from shores illuminated for photosynthesis. Limnic studies cover physical, chemical, and biological aspects: thermal stratification and mixing, dissolved gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane), nutrient cycles, primary production, and food webs.

Limnic hazards: A limnic eruption is a rare but dangerous natural event in which dissolved gases from deep lake waters are released catastrophically, suffocating surface organisms and inhabitants. The best-known instances occurred at Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun in Cameroon in the 1980s; these events are associated with volcanic carbon dioxide-rich crater lakes with layered water columns. Mitigation includes gas extraction and degassing facilities to maintain stable gas concentrations.

In ecology and limnology, limnic processes influence water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Human activities such as eutrophication, acidification, deforestation, and climate change can alter limnic systems, affecting oxygen levels, gas saturation, and productivity. The term is sometimes used broadly to refer to lake-related aspects of inland waters and is contrasted with pelagic, littoral, and profundal habitats within lakes.