A time‐dependent model of the lake‐averaged, vertical temperature distribution of lakes1,2

Abstract

A model for predicting the time‐dependent vertical thermal structure of lakes is presented. Radiative heating with depth, mixing induced by the surface wave field, and turbulent energy exchanges arc included as lake‐averaged processes. The model was designed to be applicable to a wide range of lake sizes. Comparison of predictions with horizontally averaged observations from Lake Ontario during IFYGL and unaveraged (local) observations from Llyn Cwellyn, Wales, show good agreement.