Winter Circulation in Lake Ontario

Simons, T. J.; Murthy, C. R.; Campbell, Joan E.

doi:10.1016/s0380-1330(85)71787-x

Cited by 25 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Although our simulation was quite simplistic, the results produced many of the circulation structures previously reported by both observations and various modeling efforts (Li et al 1975;Pickett and Richards 1975;Pickett 1976Pickett , 1977Pickett , 1980Pickett and Bermick 1977;Simons et al 1985;Murthy 1996;Beletsky et al 1999;Rao et al 2004;Prakash et al 2007), such as western, central, and eastern gyres; a south coastal jet between the Niagara River and the Oswego River areas; and some three-dimensional circulation, particularly in the Niagara River area. However, our simulation produced two different circulation patterns.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…Similar to Rao et al (2004), we also observed little cross-lake flow from the south shore jet. Flows in the eastern basin were complex (Li et al 1975;Pickett 1976;Pickett and Bermick 1977;Pal et al 1998), and three-dimensional flow was apparent in some areas (Simons et al 1985;Rao et al 2004). There is confusion about current patterns in the eastern basin due to contrasting model results and few observational data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Distributions of mercury and mirex in sediments show high concentrations along the south shore and in the eastern basin, with low concentrations along the north shore and within a narrow corridor corresponding to the cross-lake flow (Thomas 1983;Simons et al 1985).…”

Section: Expectations For Transport Of Materials and Organismsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Field observations (e.g., Pickett and Richards 1975;Pickett 1976;Pickett and Bermick 1977;Pickett 1977Pickett , 1980Simons et al 1985;Murthy 1996;Beletsky et al 1999;Rao et al 2004) and simulation and numerical models (Li et al 1975;Prakash et al 2007;Schwab et al 2009) have provided a good understanding of basic flow patterns and dynamics in Lake Ontario and other Great Lakes. However, field measurements typically interpolate among a limited set of point measurements of current or drift indicators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A heuristic simulation model of Lake Ontario circulation and mass balance transport

McKenna

Chalupnicki

2011

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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The redistribution of suspended organisms and materials by large-scale currents is part of natural ecological processes in large aquatic systems but can contribute to ecosystem disruption when exotic elements are introduced into the system. Toxic compounds and planktonic organisms spend various lengths of time in suspension before settling to the bottom or otherwise being removed. We constructed a simple physical simulation model, including the influence of major tributaries, to qualitatively examine circulation patterns in Lake Ontario. We used a simple mass balance approach to estimate the relative water input to and export from each of 10 depth regime-specific compartments (nearshore vs. offshore) comprising Lake Ontario. Despite its simplicity, our model produced circulation patterns similar to those reported by more complex studies in the literature. A three-gyre pattern, with the classic large counterclockwise central lake circulation, and a simpler two-gyre system were both observed. These qualitative simulations indicate little offshore transport along the south shore, except near the mouths of the Niagara River and Oswego River. Complex flow structure was evident, particularly near the Niagara River mouth and in offshore waters of the eastern basin. Average Lake Ontario residence time is 8 years, but the fastest model pathway indicated potential transport of plankton through the lake in as little as 60 days. This simulation illustrates potential invasion pathways and provides rough estimates of planktonic larval dispersal or chemical transport among nearshore and offshore areas of Lake Ontario.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 64%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Expectations For Transport Of Materials and Organismsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A heuristic simulation model of Lake Ontario circulation and mass balance transport

McKenna

Chalupnicki

2011

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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“…The Niagara River inflow was specified using monthly river inflow rates for April to October 2006 provided by the Water Survey of Canada (WSC, 2010). The incoming flow was specified to be equally distributed between depth layers down to the river bottom at approximately 10 m. In addition, the river inflow was given a specified monthly variation in temperature (Murthy, 1996;Simons, Murthy, & Campbell, 1985). To provide monthly temperature estimates for the Niagara River inflow, an annual cycle was first created using observations provided in Murthy (1996): monthly temperature values were linearly interpolated between observed maxima for May, August, and November at the mouth of the Niagara River and for an assumed value of 5°C in January (required to complete the annual cycle).…”

Section: Methodology a Numerical Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity of the Simulated Kingston Basin—Lake Ontario Summer Temperature Profile using FVCOM

2013

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Using an unstructured grid finite volume model (Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM)), numerical model simulations were generated and compared for the 2006 summer hydrography of the Lake Ontario-Kingston Basin system. Simulations are forced with surface forcing from two different sources: observations collected by Environment Canada and output generated by the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR). Simulated temperatures are compared with observations collected during the same time period to assess the viability of the NARR dataset as a source of long-term surface forcing fluxes. Root mean square errors for vertical temperature profiles, comparisons to lake surface temperatures, and Kingston Basin current observations, indicate that using NARR data to force an FVCOM model simulates the hydrography as well as simulations forced with in situ observations. RÉSUMÉ [Traduit par la rédaction] À l'aide d'un modèle aux volumes finis à grille non structurée (Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM)), nous avons généré et comparé des simulations par modèle numérique pour l'hydrographie de l'été 2006 du système lac Ontario -bassin Kingston. Les simulations sont forcées par un forçage en surface provenant de deux sources différentes : les observations recueillies par Environnement Canada et la sortie produite par le NARR (North American Regional Reanalysis). Nous comparons les températures simulées avec les observations recueillies durant la même période pour évaluer la viabilité de l'ensemble de données NARR en tant que source de flux de forçage en surface à long terme. Les erreurs-types pour les profils verticaux de température, les comparaisons avec les températures de surface du lac et les observations du courant dans le bassin Kingston indiquent que l'utilisation des données NARR pour forcer un modèle FVCOM simule l'hydrographie aussi bien que les simulation forcées par des observations in situ.

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Coastal Transport and Dispersion Modelling

Rao

Murthy

2008

Modelling and Monitoring of Coastal Marine Processes

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Winter Circulation in Lake Ontario

Cited by 25 publications

References 9 publications

A heuristic simulation model of Lake Ontario circulation and mass balance transport

A heuristic simulation model of Lake Ontario circulation and mass balance transport

Sensitivity of the Simulated Kingston Basin—Lake Ontario Summer Temperature Profile using FVCOM

Coastal Transport and Dispersion Modelling

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