STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The spontaneous precipitation of CaCO₃ or "whiting event" is a well documented phenomenon in numerous lakes. Possible causes include:

• Increased temperature raises supersaturation
• Increased Ca²⁺ and alkalinity raise supersaturation
• Algal blooms and other particulates provide mineral nucleation sites

We know increasing temperature and ionic constituents enhance CaCO₃ nucleation and growth

However, it is much less clear whether phytoplankton act as nucleation "seeds".

Nodularia spumigena, a common phytoplankton species in Pyramid lake.