The Distribution of Bottom Sediments in Loch Leven, Kinross

Abstract

The sediments of shallow and deep water areas of Loch Leven are, respectively, medium to very fine-grained sands and silty clays (muds). The largest area of more or less uniform sediment type (sands) occurs on the north-eastern shelf. The sediments with the finest grain size are found in an area to the south and east of Castle Island and Reed Bower. Here, the median grain size is less than 4 microns. The amount of sand in a sediment is very highly correlated with the median grain size of the sediment and may therefore most usefully be used to describe the general distribution of sediments in the loch. The distribution of organic carbon in the loch sediments is largely confined to deep-water areas. The southern deep area is more organic rich than the northern deep area. The amount of organic carbon in a sediment is positively correlated with the amounts of clay and silt in the sediment.