Latitude and lake size are important predictors of over-lake atmospheric stability

Woolway, R. Iestyn; Verburg, Piet; Merchant, Christopher J.; Lenters, John D.; Hamilton, David P.; Brookes, Justin; Kelly, Sean; Hook, Simon; Laas, Alo; Pierson, Don; Rimmer, Alon; Rusak, James A.; Jones, Ian D.. 2017 Latitude and lake size are important predictors of over-lake atmospheric stability. Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (17). 8875-8883. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073941

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073941

Abstract/Summary

Turbulent fluxes across the air-water interface are integral to determining lake heat budgets, evaporation, and carbon emissions from lakes. The stability of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) influences the exchange of turbulent energy. We explore the differences in over-lake ABL stability using data from 39 globally distributed lakes. The frequency of unstable ABL conditions varied between lakes from 71 to 100% of the time, with average air temperatures typically several degrees below the average lake surface temperature. This difference increased with decreasing latitude, resulting in a more frequently unstable ABL and a more efficient energy transfer to and from the atmosphere, toward the tropics. In addition, during summer the frequency of unstable ABL conditions decreased with increasing lake surface area. The dependency of ABL stability on latitude and lake size has implications for heat loss and carbon fluxes from lakes, the hydrologic cycle, and climate change effects.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073941
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Parr
ISSN:	0094-8276
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	lake, atmosphere
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology
Date made live:	27 Sep 2017 11:44 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517936

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073941

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Parr

ISSN:

0094-8276

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

lake, atmosphere