Global gridded dataset of lake coverage and lake depth for use in numerical weather prediction and climate modelling

Abstract

A global dataset of lake coverage and lake depth was developed for use in numerical weather prediction and climate modelling. It provides the global gridded information on lake depth with the resolution of 30 arc sec. (approximately 1 km). It was obtained by mapping data on mean lake depth for ca. 13 000 freshwater lakes. Apart from the mean depth, the bathymetry for 36 large lakes is included. Information for individual lakes was collected from regional databases, water cadastres and public sources. For mapping, the land cover map ECOCLIMAP2 was used. A new automatic probabilistic mapping method was developed and is described here. We discuss also how to project the lake depth data onto the numerical atmospheric model grid and how to achieve the consistency of physiographic datasets when several maps are used in a model.