Conversely, cold, spring fed inputs will plunge to the bottom layer, or hypolimnion. Since the layers are not mixing, warm inputs such as wastewater or nutrient-rich runoff will go directly to the part of the lake where algae grow and fish live. Because these layers typically don’t mix, inputs associated with warm water will directly affect the epilimnion. The timing of stratification and depths of a lake’s layers are important to limnologists (scientists who study inland, or non-ocean waters). Some lakes will mix on windy days, for example. This top layer, the epilimnion, will be distinctly separate from the colder bottom layer and the two will typically not mix, or “turn over”, until the weather cools. After a period of several warm days, a warm top layer will form. The warmer water is less dense than the cold water, so it remains near the surface. This occurs as the cold lake water begins to warm at the surface. We are slowly rolling out a new facet of monitoring that gives volunteers another opportunity to make direct measurements.Įach year, typically in May, our lakes stratify ( more about stratification). Participation in the Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program is mostly gathering and processing samples, but our volunteers do make some direct measurements, particularly water temperature and water clarity. Tracking Lake Stratification and TurnoverĬaroline Toole measuring surface temperature at Lake of the Ozarks
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |