Heat uptake and resistance to mixing in small humic forest lakes in Southern Finland

Abstract

The annual heat budgets and maximum thermal stabilities achieved by small Finnish forest lakes are considerable for lakes of their size. Heat uptake is rapid during the brief period of vernal circulation, with the latent heat of fusion of ice contributing substantially to this. Heating then slows, with maximum heat contents and thermal stabilities occurring around early August. Absorption of solar radiation by the dystrophic waters, effective shelter from wind-induced turbulence, and considerable relative depths all combine to prevent mixing of heat much below the surface 2 m of most study lakes. Birgean wind-work values therefore remain low, and cold hypolimnetic waters occupy much of the lake volume. The lakes also respond quickly to meteorological change, which causes considerable year-to-year variation, and some short-term fluctuation, in their heat budgets and maximum stabilities. The lakes' small size and shallow thermal stratification may contribute to this.