Horizontal and temporal variability of transport processes in lakes ...

• Main Author: Forrest, Alexander LeBaron
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2011
• Subjects: Canada; British Columbia; Iceland
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0063192; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0063192

This work examines the three dimensional nature of three important physical transport processes in lakes: (1) convection generated from a negative surface buoyancy flux; (2) transport resulting from rotational adjustment; and, (3) underflow fate during episodic wind stirring. Vertical and horizontal temperature gradients were characterized using a combination of traditional (moorings and vertical profilers) and novel techniques (an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) at two sites; Pavilion Lake, British Columbia, Canada and Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland. The former site is a relatively small (5 km²), temperate lake, with comparatively low snow cover that allows solar radiation to be the dominant energy flux to the system during late winter months. Analysis of water temperature distribution in surface waters during summer and winter enabled convective patterns resulting from a negative surface buoyancy flux to be inferred. In addition to previously studied physical transport phenomena, this work has revealed the ...