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Abstract In this study, we report on turbulent mixing observed during the annual stratification cycle in the hypolimnetic waters of Lake Michigan (USA), highlighting stratified, convective, and transitional mixing periods. Measurements were collected using a combination of moored instruments and microstructure profiles. Observations during the stratified summer showed a shallow, wind‐driven surface mixed layer (SML) with locally elevated dissipation rates in the thermocline () potentially associated with internal wave shear. Below the thermocline, turbulence was weak () and buoyancy‐suppressed (< 8.5), with low hypolimnetic mixing rates () limiting benthic particle delivery. During the convective winter period, a diurnal cycle of radiative convection was observed over each day of measurement, where temperature overturns were directly correlated with elevated turbulence levels throughout the water column (;). A transitional mixing period was observed for spring conditions when surface temperatures were near the temperature of maximum density (TMD3.98) and the water column began to stably stratify. While small temperature gradients allowed strong mixing over the transitional period (), hypolimnetic velocity shear was overwhelmed by weakly stable stratification (;), limiting the development of the SML. These results highlight the importance of radiative convection for breaking down weak hypolimnetic stratification and driving energetic, full water column mixing during a substantial portion of the year (>100 days at our sample site). Ongoing surface water warming in the Laurentian Great Lakes is significantly reducing the annual impact of convective mixing, with important consequences for nutrient cycling, primary production, and benthic‐pelagic coupling.
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Hydrodynamic Modeling of Stratification and Mixing in a Shallow, Tropical Floodplain Lake
Abstract Floodplain lakes are widespread and ecologically important throughout tropical river systems, however data are rare that describe how temporal variations in hydrological, meteorological and optical conditions moderate stratification and mixing in these shallow lakes. Using time series measurements of meteorology and water‐column temperatures from 17 several day campaigns spanning two hydrological years in a representative Amazon floodplain lake, we calculated surface energy fluxes and thermal stratification, and applied and evaluated a 3‐dimensional hydrodynamic model. The model successfully simulated diel cycles in thermal structure characterized by buoyancy frequency, depth of the actively mixing layer, and other terms associated with the surface energy budget. Diurnal heating with strong stratification and nocturnal mixing were common; despite considerable heat loss at night, the strong stratification during the day meant that mixing only infrequently extended to the bottom at night. Simulations indicated that the diurnal thermocline up and downwelled creating lake‐wide differences in near‐surface temperatures and mixing depths. Infrequent full mixing creates conditions conducive to anoxia in these shallow lakes given their warm temperatures.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1753856
- PAR ID:
- 10540415
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Water Resources Research
- Volume:
- 60
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 0043-1397
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR034057
