2/6/2014

Physiography of Lakes and Reservoirs

Chapter 7

How Lake Morphometry Influences Productivity

Shallow lakes are more productive than deeper lakes What are some possible reasons for this general observation?

How Lake Shape/Size Influence Productivity

Productivity can correlate with increased shoreline irregularity index of shoreline development
DL = L / 2A0

Circular lake = lowest index value (1) Higher index value generally correlates with higher productivity Why might this be?

2/6/2014

How Lake Shape/Size Influence Productivity

Reservoirs behind dams generally have a high shoreline development value Impounded water fills in drainage basins of rivers and streams dendritic shape With shallow depth, have a high potential for primary production Can be turbidity limited why more than lakes?

Degrees of Shore Development

Natural Lake vs. Reservoir

Bathymetric Maps

2/6/2014

Lake Retention Time

Average time water spends in lake = water residence time = water turnover time = Lake volume / water loss from evaporation and outflow
Volume (Surface area) x (average depth, z)

Varies widely
Hours/days for small pond; 1000s yrs for large lakes

Retention Time Implications

How would you expect retention time to correlate with lake productivity? How might residence time factor into the effect that pollutants have on lake ecology? Consider two lakes of equal volumes but high and low residence times

Lake Stratification
Recall nonlinear relationship between water temperature and density Stratification density differences in water that maintain stable layers Can result from temperature or salinity variation with depth mostly temperature Process best understood with the seasonal sequence of stratification in cold-temperate lakes (dimictic lakes)

2/6/2014

Seasonal Sequence of Stratification

Early spring isothermal conditions with depth (same temp from top to bottom)
Easily mixed by wind to depth spring mixing event

As spring advances increasing solar energy inputs

Eddy transport of heat within photic zone via winds

Series of warm, calm days leads to lake stratification summer stratification

Summer Stratification
As surface water warms it increasingly becomes less dense Thermocline intensifies Retards transport between epilimnion and hypolimnion Very stable

2/6/2014

Autumnal Break-up of Thermocline

Surface cooling equilibrates epilimnion temperature to that of the hypolimnion
Isothermal conditions

With continued surface cooling, what will occur? Fall mixing event
Continues until lake is 3.9C isothermic

Winter Stratification
Continued cooling produces lens of colder but less dense water sitting upon denser water = winter stratification
Maintained with ice formation

In early spring ice melts and warms to 3.9C

Disrupts stratification and reestablishes isothermal conditions

2/6/2014