The ice cover on small and large lakes: scaling analysis and mathematical modelling

Lake ice cover is described by its thickness, temperature, stratigraphy and overlying snow layer. When the ratio of ice thickness to lake size is above ∼10 −5 , the ice cover is stable; otherwise, mechanical forcing breaks the ice cover, and ice drifting takes place with lead-opening and ridging. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2008-03, Vol.599 (1), p.183-189
Main Authors: Leppäranta, Matti, Wang, Keguang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Aquatic ecosystems
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climate change
Ecological conditions
Ecology
Ells 2007
Environmental changes
Euphotic zone
Frazil ice
Fresh water ecosystems
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Geophysics
Ice
Ice cover
Ice environments
Ice thickness
Lake ice
Lakes
Life Sciences
Mathematical models
Ridging
Sea ice
Stratigraphy
Synecology
Thermodynamics
Water column
Zoology
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Summary:Lake ice cover is described by its thickness, temperature, stratigraphy and overlying snow layer. When the ratio of ice thickness to lake size is above ∼10 −5 , the ice cover is stable; otherwise, mechanical forcing breaks the ice cover, and ice drifting takes place with lead-opening and ridging. This transition enables a convenient distinction to be made between small and large lakes. The evolution of the ice cover on small lakes is solved by a wholly thermodynamic model, but a coupled mechanical–thermodynamic model is needed for large lakes. The latter indicates a wide distribution of ice thickness, and frazil ice may be formed in openings. Ecological conditions in large lakes differ markedly from those in small lakes because vertical mixing and oxygen renewal may take place during the ice season, and the euphotic zone penetrates well into the water column in thin ice regions. Mesoscale sea ice models are applicable to large lakes with only minor tuning of the key parameters. These model systems are presented and analysed using Lake Peipsi as an example. As the climate changes, the transition size between small and large lake ice cover will change.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/s10750-007-9201-3