The volume and mean depth of Earth's lakes

Cael, B. B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1317-5718; Heathcote, A. J.; Seekell, D. A.. 2017 The volume and mean depth of Earth's lakes. Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (1). 209-218. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071378

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071378

Abstract/Summary

Global lake volume estimates are scarce, highly variable, and poorly documented. We developed a rigorous method for estimating global lake depth and volume based on the Hurst coefficient of Earth's surface, which provides a mechanistic connection between lake area and volume. Volume‐area scaling based on the Hurst coefficient is accurate and consistent when applied to lake data sets spanning diverse regions. We applied these relationships to a global lake area census to estimate global lake volume and depth. The volume of Earth's lakes is 199,000 km3 (95% confidence interval 196,000–202,000 km3). This volume is in the range of historical estimates (166,000–280,000 km3), but the overall mean depth of 41.8 m (95% CI 41.2–42.4 m) is significantly lower than previous estimates (62–151 m). These results highlight and constrain the relative scarcity of lake waters in the hydrosphere and have implications for the role of lakes in global biogeochemical cycles.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071378
ISSN:	0094-8276
Date made live:	25 Apr 2020 13:48 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/527318

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071378

ISSN:

0094-8276

Date made live:

25 Apr 2020 13:48 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/527318