Energy Flux Paths in Lakes and Reservoirs

Sofya Guseva,Torsten Sachs,Peter Casper,Uwe Spank,Andreas Lorke

doi:10.3390/w13223270

Abstract

Mechanical energy in lakes is present in various types of water motion, including turbulent flows, surface and internal waves. The major source of kinetic energy is wind forcing at the water surface. Although a small portion of the vertical wind energy flux in the atmosphere is transferred to water, it is crucial for physical, biogeochemical and ecological processes in lentic ecosystems. To examine energy fluxes and energy content in surface and internal waves, we analyze extensive datasets of air- and water-side measurements collected at two small water bodies (<10 km2). For the first time we use directly measured atmospheric momentum fluxes. The estimated energy fluxes and content agree well with results reported for larger lakes, suggesting that the energetics governing water motions in enclosed basins is similar, independent of basin size. The largest fraction of wind energy flux is transferred to surface waves and increases strongly nonlinearly for wind speeds exceeding 3 m s−1. The energy content is largest in basin-scale and high-frequency internal waves but shows seasonal variability and varies among aquatic systems. At one of the study sites, energy dissipation rates varied diurnally, suggesting biogenic turbulence, which appears to be a widespread phenomenon in lakes and reservoirs.

Highlights

IntroductionWind-generated turbulence regulates the vertical distribution of heat that is exchanged with the atmosphere, affects thermal stratification [1] and controls gas exchange with the atmosphere [2], which can be enhanced by surface waves [3]
Data are based on measurements in Bautzen Reservoir. (b) Dissipation rate calculated using the structure function method and the bottom boundary layer (BBL) approach based on measurements in Lake Dagow
The two studied water bodies were expected to be governed by contrasting hydrodynamic processes and conditions, we did not find any significant differences in energy fluxes

Summary

Introduction

Wind-generated turbulence regulates the vertical distribution of heat that is exchanged with the atmosphere, affects thermal stratification [1] and controls gas exchange with the atmosphere [2], which can be enhanced by surface waves [3]. Vertical turbulent mixing in the surface layer controls the exposure of planktonic organisms to light, therewith regulating primary production and community composition of phytoplankton [4,5,6]. Windinduced upwelling [7,8], as well as internal waves [9], affect phytoplankton and water quality by transporting nutrients from the stratified hypolimnion to the surface layer. At the bottom of lakes and reservoirs, boundary layer turbulence controls the oxygen flux into the sediments [11] and therewith the rate of carbon burial and methane production [12], as well as the internal loading of the lake with nutrients [13]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion