Dynamics of Large Polymictic Lake. I: Field Observations
This article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 2
Abstract
The internal dynamics of Clear Lake, California—a large, multibasin and polymictic lake—under stratified conditions is described in this work. Particular attention is paid to one of the subbasins of Clear Lake (Oaks Arm). Several field experiments were conducted in the lake to obtain data of wind, currents, and water temperature using a wide range of devices. Based on field observations and previously published results on basin responses to wind stress, a conceptual model of the internal circulation of the Oaks Arm is proposed. Its internal dynamics are characterized by diurnal cycles of setup and relaxation of horizontal temperature gradients driven by the wind forcing. The setup and relaxation processes are modulated by the influence of the earth’s rotation and create a residual cyclonic circulation. This circulation mechanism is here referred to as baroclinic pumping. It is in all likelihood not exclusive to Clear Lake but probably exists in other large and relatively shallow lakes forced by strong and almost periodic wind events where basin-scale internal waves do not play a major role in the dynamics of the system.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Ahsan, Q., and Blumberg, A. F.(1999). “Three-dimensional hydrothermal model of Onandoga Lake, New York.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 125(9), 912–923.
Antenucci, J. P., Imberger, J., and Saggio, A.(2000). “Seasonal evolution of the basin-scale internal wave field in a large stratified lake.” Limnol. Oceanogr., 45(7), 1621–1638.
Bale, A. E.(2000). “Modeling aquatic mercury cycle in Clear Lake, California.” J. Environ. Eng., 126(2), 153–163.
Beletsky, D., and O’Connor, W. P.(1997). “Numerical simulation of internal Kelvin waves and coastal upwelling fronts.” J. Phys. Oceanogr., 27, 1197–1215.
Beletsky, D., Saylor, J. H., and Schwab, D. J.(1999). “Mean circulation in the Great Lakes.” J. Great Lakes Res., 25(1), 78–93.
Csanady, G. T. (1982). Circulation in the coastal ocean, D. Reidel, Dordrecht, Holland.
Giroux, H., and Lawton, J. (1980). “The Geysers KGRA micro-meteorological network. Environmental research and design.” Prepared for Lake County Air Pollution Control District.
Hodges, B. R., Imberger, J., Saggio, A., and Winters, K. B.(2000). “Modeling basin-scale motions in a stratified lake.” Limnol. Oceanogr., 45(7), 1603–1620.
Imberger, J., and Patterson, J. C.(1990). “Physical lumnology.” Adv. Appl. Mech.,27, 303–475.
Kundu, P. K. (1990). Fluid Mechanics, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Lemmin, U.(1987). “The structure and dynamics of internal waves in Baldeggersee.” Limnol. Oceanogr., 32(1), 43–61.
Lynch, M. G. (1996). “Seasonal variations in lake mixing, Clear Lake, California.” MS thesis, Univ. of California, Davis, Calif.
Pan, H., Avissar, R., and Haidvogel, D. B. (1998). “Three-dimensional numerical modelling of summer water motions and temperature structure in Lake Kinneret.” EOS Transactions—Ocean Sciences Meeting Supplement, OS120-7, 79.
Rueda, F. J. (2001). “A three-dimensional hydrodynamic and transport model for lake environments.” PhD dissertation, Univ. of California, Davis, Calif.
Sanderson, B.(1987). “An analysis of Lagrangian kinematics in Lake Erie.” J. Great Lakes Res., 13(4), 559–567.
Spigel, R. H., and Imberger, J.(1980). “The classification of mixed layer dynamics in lakes of small to medium size.” J. Phys. Oceanogr., 10, 1104–1121.
Stevens, C., and Imberger, J.(1996). “The initial response of a stratified lake to a surface shear stress.” J. Fluid Mech., 312, 39–66.
Suchanek, T. H., Mullen, L. H., Lamphere, B. H., Richerson, P. J., Woodmansee, C. E., Slotton, D. G., Harner, E. J., and Woodward, L. A.(1998). “Redistribution of mercury from contaminated lake sediments of Clear Lake, California.” Water Air Soil Pollut., 104(1/2), 77–102.
Tsvetova, E.(1999). “Mathematical modelling of Lake Baikal hydrodynamics.” Hydrobiologia, 407, 37–43.
Wiegand, R. C., and Chamberlain, V.(1987). “Internal waves of the second vertical mode in a stratified lake.” Limnol. Oceanogr., 32(1), 29–42.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 2 • February 2003
Pages: 82 - 91
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 14, 2001
Accepted: Apr 26, 2002
Published online: Jan 15, 2003
Published in print: Feb 2003
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.