The physico-chemical parameter status of Lonar crater Lake, India

Lonar Crater (19(o)58'N and 76(o)31'E) Lake is the third largest natural salt-water lake in the world. Lonar Crater is a wet land which is important biodiversity sector. The lake brine supports typical microbial flora and fauna which need to be investigated to access its value of wet-land to be recognized as Ramsar Site of India. During the study period fourteen different physico-chemical parameters were studied: temperature, P-H, Total Dissolved Solid, Electrical conductivity, Dissolved oxygen, Free CO2, carbonates and bicarbonates, hardness, chlorides, salinity, calcium and magnesium hardness. The crater physical setup, its relative geographical and ecological isolation has evolved limnological status in a unique way. Its unusual and climatic isolation highlights the ecosystem as an ecological wonder. Present work deals with analysis of physico-chemical parameters that aim to investigate the pollution level to know eutrophication status of Lonar Crater Lake. The study of hydrological status reveals variation of salinity during rainy season and summer while the lake is leading towards eutrophication.