Water depth modifies winter circulation in 22 deep Japanese waterbodies

Le résumé fourni par la source

Abstract Winter circulation is a key dynamic that sustains the seasonality of freshwater ecosystems in temperate regions. However, it may be delayed or lost due to climate change. The occurrence of water circulation is affected by climate and morphological factors of waterbodies. However, although the occurrence of winter circulation has been found to be controlled by the interplay of climatic and morphologic factors, empirical investigations of this interplay remain limited. Thus, we explored the prevalent role of the interaction between climatic and morphologic factors in the occurrence of winter circulation using up to 37 years of data from 22 deep (maximum depth > 20 m) reservoirs in Japan. We found a negative interaction between seasonal air temperature and water depth, indicating that the effect of the temperature condition of the preceding season declines at deeper water depths. Therefore, in line with previous findings regarding relatively shallow lakes, water depth changes the strength of air temperature effect on the occurrence of winter circulation in deep waterbodies. Furthermore, these results highlight the potential to promote winter circulation through water depth management and the importance of understanding patterns across multiple waterbodies to guide management interventions.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.