Studies of Large-Scale Currents in Lake Erie, 1979–80

A modeling study of ice–water processes for Lake Erie applying coupled ice-circulation models

“…A stream function ϕ is defined as ϕ ¼ −∫ udy or∫vdx, where ū and v are vertically averaged velocities in x and y directions, respectively. It has been shown that the net transport in the lake was mainly wind-driven with limited vertical shear (Bennet, 1974;Saylor and Miller, 1987). The clockwise and anti-clockwise gyres in the model results were almost consistent with the negative and positive wind stress curl in spring and summer, respectively.…”

A hydrodynamic approach to modeling phosphorus distribution in Lake Erie

“…The rationale for using the vertically averaged current velocities is that 1) river inputs to the lake are generally vertically mixed within a few kilometers of the river mouth, 2) the net horizontal transport in a shallow lake is mainly wind-induced. As shown theoretically by Bennett (1974) and confirmed experimentally by Saylor and Miller (1987), wind-induced net horizontal transport in Lake Erie is only weakly affected by stratification. Saylor and Miller (1987) found that measured currents in Lake Erie during both stratified and unstratified seasons agreed well with the results of the thermally homogeneous circulation model of Gedney and Lick (1972).…”

“…As shown theoretically by Bennett (1974) and confirmed experimentally by Saylor and Miller (1987), wind-induced net horizontal transport in Lake Erie is only weakly affected by stratification. Saylor and Miller (1987) found that measured currents in Lake Erie during both stratified and unstratified seasons agreed well with the results of the thermally homogeneous circulation model of Gedney and Lick (1972). They also point out that the main impact of stratification on horizontal circulation allows nearinertial vertically variable current motions which are out-of-phase above and below the thermocline and therefore have a negligible effect on net horizontal transport.…”

Summer thermal structure and anticyclonic circulation of Lake Erie

“…Although observations in the northern part of the central basin are lacking, available data indicate a single gyre anticyclonic circulation pattern during August-September (Figure 2b). This type of circulation is rather unusual for the Great Lakes [Beletsky et al, 1999] but was actually observed in Lake Erie before [Saylor and Miller, 1987]. Since wind curl is an effective source of vorticity in lakes [Schwab and Beletsky, 2003], this finding prompted a detailed investigation of the wind field during the period of study.…”