This is a parallel project to the Lake Michigan CO₂ dynamics study.  Because large, tropical lakes are in many ways physically, chemically and biologically distinct from more studied temperate lakes, we might also expect that mechanisms regulating carbon dynamics differ.  Dr. Maxon Ngochera measured CO₂ exchange between Lake Malawi and the atmosphere by conducting monthly cruises on a passenger ferry, the Ilala, during which he made continuous measurements of CO₂ partial pressure in the lake and the atmosphere. He discovered that, unlike many temperate lakes and smaller tropical lakes, Lake Malawi appears to be a net CO₂ sink.  We are currently investigating several hypotheses to explain why this lake inhales more CO₂ than it exhales.