An archive of Lake Superior temperature and current measurements, 2005–2020

Austin, Jay A.; Elmer, Cassandra

doi:10.1002/lol2.10293

Limnol Oceanogr Letters

2022

DOI: 10.1002/lol2.10293

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An archive of Lake Superior temperature and current measurements, 2005–2020

Jay A. Austin

Cassandra Elmer²

Abstract: Since 2005, investigators at the University of Minnesota, Duluth's Large Lakes Observatory have been maintaining subsurface moorings and surface buoys in Lake Superior to study thermal structure and currents throughout the water column and throughout the year. A single site has been continuously occupied for over 17 years as of the writing of this manuscript, another 10 sites have been occupied for multiple years, and for 3 months in summer 2017 an intensive field campaign occupied 12 sites simultaneously in w… Show more

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2024

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Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

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What controls the onset of winter stratification in a deep, dimictic lake?

Austin

2024

Limnology & Oceanography

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The transition from summer stratification to winter stratification is considered for deep, dimictic Lake Superior. The fall transition is dynamically distinct from the better‐studied spring transition; it is characterized by a wind‐driven collapse of weakening summer stratification, a surface‐cooling–driven period during which the water column is essentially isothermal, and eventual onset of inverse (cold upper layer) stratification, after which sub‐thermocline water temperatures are largely fixed for the rest of the season. Due to the small value of thermal expansivity near the temperature of maximum density, temperature gradients do not impart much stability to the water column, and it is difficult for winter stratification to form immediately upon dropping below the temperature of maximum density. Instead, the water column continues to cool until the thermal expansivity is sufficiently large in magnitude to allow temperature gradients to impart stability. This observation implies that the temperature locked into the deep water for the winter season will be a consequence of the specific meteorological forcing experienced in a given year; there may be long‐term climate change driven trends in the timing of the onset of stratification but not trends in winter deep‐water temperature. To address this hypothesis, 15 yr of moored temperature data collected in Lake Superior are examined, and a scaling argument and climatological data are applied to better understand interannual variability in the onset of winter stratification.

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What controls the onset of winter stratification in a deep, dimictic lake?

Austin

2024

Limnology & Oceanography

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Direct Observations of Coastally Generated Near‐Inertial Waves During a Wind Event

Kelly,

Green,

Stokes

et al. 2024

JGR Oceans

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Wind over the ocean generates near‐inertial velocities. In the open ocean, horizontal variability in the inertial frequency and mesoscale vorticity generate internal waves that transport energy laterally and drive diapcynal mixing in remote locations. In the coastal ocean, horizontal variability is produced by the coastline. This study analyzes observations along a straight coastline in Lake Superior, which acts as a “natural laboratory” for the coastal ocean. Depth‐profiles of velocity, temperature, and turbulent miscrostructure were collected during a 96 hr repeat survey from 3 to 20 km offshore in Aug 2018. Wind work was 2 mW and generated 0.2 m near‐inertial velocities that were inhibited within two internal Rossby radii (6 km) of the coast. The velocities are interpreted as a superposition of a “forced flow”, which is horizontally uniform, and a “wave flow”, associated with offshore propagating near‐inertial waves. A 1D momentum equation skillfully predicts the horizontally averaged near‐inertial velocities and the TKE shear production, which matches the 1 mW observed TKE dissipation rate. The offshore propagating wave has an energy flux of 10 W (m‐coastline)−1 and a downward energy flux of 1 mW . These results suggest that most near‐inertial wind work is lost directly to TKE shear production, but some energy is transferred to offshore propagating waves that may help catalyze shear instability away from the coast.

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The use of advanced and emerging technologies for adaptive ecosystem-based management of the Great Lakes

Verhamme,

Bratton,

Austin

et al. 2024

Aquatic Ecosystem Health &Amp; Management

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The Great Lakes and connecting waters encompass a vast and diverse ecosystem that presents scale challenges for management similar to those of the coastal ocean. Technological approaches to overcome the scale challenges have primarily been adapted from oceanographic applications and technologies, and from upscaling inland lake methods designed for shallower and calmer water bodies. Many standard methods for studying Great Lakes habitat and biota have long lag times between field collection and data availability. Many also miss much of the dynamics, three-dimensional complexity, and spatial variability needed to manage the system effectively. Even baseline conditions are not well characterized for many parts of the Great Lakes ecosystem (e.g. bathymetry and critical habitat, life cycles and food webs, night and winter movement and activity of organisms). Emerging technologies are beginning to address these needs but require coordination, consistent investment, training, and governance linkages. Here we survey recent technological advances and show how they are contributing to improved adaptive management of the Great Lakes ecosystem by reducing uncertainty and increasing understanding of physical, biological, and chemical processes, and the human dimensions of resource management and restoration.

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An archive of Lake Superior temperature and current measurements, 2005–2020

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

What controls the onset of winter stratification in a deep, dimictic lake?

What controls the onset of winter stratification in a deep, dimictic lake?

Direct Observations of Coastally Generated Near‐Inertial Waves During a Wind Event

The use of advanced and emerging technologies for adaptive ecosystem-based management of the Great Lakes

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