Seasonal overturn and stratification changes drive deep-water warming in one of Earth’s largest lakes

Eric J. Anderson (), Craig A. Stow, Andrew D. Gronewold, Lacey A. Mason, Michael J. McCormick, Song S. Qian, Steven A. Ruberg, Kyle Beadle, Stephen A. Constant and Nathan Hawley
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Eric J. Anderson: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Craig A. Stow: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Andrew D. Gronewold: University of Michigan
Lacey A. Mason: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Michael J. McCormick: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Song S. Qian: The University of Toledo
Steven A. Ruberg: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Kyle Beadle: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Stephen A. Constant: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Nathan Hawley: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Most of Earth’s fresh surface water is consolidated in just a few of its largest lakes, and because of their unique response to environmental conditions, lakes have been identified as climate change sentinels. While the response of lake surface water temperatures to climate change is well documented from satellite and summer in situ measurements, our understanding of how water temperatures in large lakes are responding at depth is limited, as few large lakes have detailed long-term subsurface observations. We present an analysis of three decades of high frequency (3-hourly and hourly) subsurface water temperature data from Lake Michigan. This unique data set reveals that deep water temperatures are rising in the winter and provides precise measurements of the timing of fall overturn, the point of minimum temperature, and the duration of the winter cooling period. Relationships from the data show a shortened winter season results in higher subsurface temperatures and earlier onset of summer stratification. Shifts in the thermal regimes of large lakes will have profound impacts on the ecosystems of the world’s surface freshwater.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21971-1

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