Mixing Events and their Frequency in Lakes of Various Sizes

Extended periods of summer stratification have been noted in many lakes with ongoing climate change.  A key question is whether vertical exchanges are still ongoing and, if their frequency is reduced, what are the ecosystem consequences?  Here we use time series data from lakes of various sizes to examine exchange mechanisms. A goal is to answer three questions:  Have polymictic lakes truly been mixing frequently?  Are vertical exchange mechanisms occurring but operative in two dimensions? In which lakes do we expect warming from climate change to be concentrated in the upper layers, in which ones will the thermocline thicken, and what are the ecosystem consequences?  In answering the above questions, rates of vertical exchange will be contrasted to the rates of biogeochemical processes that would alter system function.

Presentation Preference: Oral

Primary Presenter: Sally MacIntyre, University of California - Santa Barbara (sally@eri.ucsb.edu)

Authors:

Sally MacIntyre, University of California at Santa Barbara  (sally@eri.ucsb.edu)