Lake retention time
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Lake retention time (also called the residence time of lake water, or the water age or flushing time) is a calculated quantity expressing the mean time that water (or some dissolved substance) spends in a particular lake. At its simplest, this figure is the result of dividing the lake volume by the flow in or out of the lake. It roughly expresses the amount of time taken for a substance introduced into a lake to flow out of it again. The retention time is particularly important where downstream flooding or pollutants are concerned.
Global retention time
The global retention time for a lake (the overall mean time that water spends in the lake) is calculated by dividing the lake volume by either the mean rate of inflow of all tributaries, or by the mean rate of outflow (ideally including evaporation and seepage). This metric assumes that water in the lake is well-mixed (rather than stratified), so that any portion of the lake water is much like any other. In reality, larger and deeper lakes are generally not well-mixed. Many large lakes can be divided into distinct portions with only limited flow between them. Deep lakes are generally stratified, with deeper water mixing infrequently with surface water. These are often better modeled as several distinct sub-volumes of water.[1]
More specific residence times
It is possible to calculate more specific residence time figures for a particular lake, such as individual residence times for sub-volumes (e.g. particular arms), or a residence time distribution for the various layers of a stratified lake. These figures can often better express the hydrodynamics of the lake. However, any such approach remains a simplification and must be guided by an understanding of the processes operating in the lake.
Two approaches can be used (often in combination) to elucidate how a particular lake works: field measurements and mathematical modeling. One common technique for field measurement is to introduce a tracer into the lake and monitor its movement. This can be a solid tracer, such as a float constructed to be neutrally buoyant within a particular water layer, or sometimes a liquid. This approach is sometimes referred to as using a Lagrangian reference frame. Another field measurement approach, using an Eulerian reference frame, is to capture various properties of the lake water (including mass movement, water temperature, electrical conductivity and levels of dissolved substances, typically oxygen) at various fixed positions in the lake. From these can be constructed an understanding of the dominant processes operating in the various parts of the lake and their range and duration.[1]
Field measurements alone are usually not a reliable basis for generating residence times, mainly because they necessarily represent a small subset of locations and conditions. Therefore, the measurements are generally used as the input for numerical models. In theory it would be possible to integrate a system of hydrodynamic equations with variable boundary conditions over a very long period sufficient for inflowing water particles to exit the lake. One could then calculate the traveling times of the particles using a Lagrangian method. However, this approach exceeds the detail available in current hydrodynamic models and the capacity of current computer resources. Instead, residence time models developed for gas and fluid dynamics, chemical engineering, and bio-hydrodynamics can be adapted to generate residence times for sub-volumes of lakes.[1]
Renewal time
One useful mathematical model is the measurement of how quickly inflows are able to refill a lake. Renewal time is a specific measure of retention time, where the focus is on 'how long does it take to completely replace all water in a lake.' This is modeling can only be done with an accurate budget of all water gained and lost by the system. Renewal time simply becomes a question how quickly could the inflows of the lake fill the entire volume of the basin (this does still assume the outflows are unchanged). For example if Lake Michigan was emptied, it would take 99 years for its tributaries to completely refill the lake.[2]
List of residence times of lake water
The residence time listed is taken from the infobox in the associated article unless otherwise specified.
| Lake | Location | Basin countries | Residence time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stausee Ferden | Ferden, Valais | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Wohlen / Wohlensee | Canton of Bern | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Hévíz | Hévíz | Hungary | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake St. Clair | Great Lakes | Canada, United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Arapuni | North Island | New Zealand | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Milton Pond | Strafford County, New Hampshire, York County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Gibson Lake | Gibson Generating Station, Princeton, Indiana | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Råcksta Träsk | Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Sagami | Kanagawa | Japan | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Cristallina | Ticino | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Northeast Pond | Strafford County, New Hampshire; York County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Brandy Pond | Naples, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Champagne Pool | Waiotapu, North Island | New Zealand | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Prospect reservoir | Prospect, New South Wales | Australia | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Sicklasjön | Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Devils Lake | Lincoln County, Oregon | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lough Derg | Shannon River Basin | Ireland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Derwent Water | Cumbria | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Biel / Bielersee / Lac de Bienne | Canton of Bern | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Veluwemeer | Flevoland, Gelderland | Netherlands | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Hacksjön | Tullinge | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Kamloops Lake | British Columbia | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Malham Tarn | North Yorkshire, England | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac d'Anterne | Passy, Haute-Savoie | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Graham Lake | Hancock County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Grand Lac de Clairvaux | Jura department, Franche-Comté | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Laduviken | Djurgården | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Esthwaite Water | Lake District, Cumbria | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Trehörningen | Huddinge, Southern Stockholm County | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac de Divonne | Divonne-les-Bains, Ain | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Lesina / Lago di Lesina | Province of Foggia, Apulia | Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Seeweidsee | Canton of Zurich | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Hüttnersee | Hütten, Canton of Zurich | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Lauerz / Lauerzersee | Canton of Schwyz | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Morris Lake | Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Sobradinho Reservoir | Sobradinho, Bahia | Brazil | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Balch Pond | Carroll County, New Hampshire; York County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Magelungen | Huddinge | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Russell Lake | Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Loweswater | Lake District, Cumbria | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lappkärret | Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lough Feeagh | County Mayo | Ireland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Egelsee | Bubikon, Canton of Zurich | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac de Vouglans | Jura, Franche-Comté | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Mettmenhaslisee | Canton of Zurich | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Albysjön | Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Chesuncook Lake | Piscataquis County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Clinton Lake | DeWitt County, Illinois | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Flagstaff Lake | Somerset County and Franklin County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Coeur d'Alene | Northern Idaho | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac de Saint-Point | Doubs department, Franche-Comté | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Kyrksjön | Bromma | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Newnan's Lake | Gainesville, Florida | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Staples Pond | Temple, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac Cornu | Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Haute-Savoie | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac du Brévent | Chamonix, Haute-Savoie | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Silvaplana / Silvaplanersee / Lej da Silvaplauna | Engadin, Grisons | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Loch Awe | Argyll and Bute, Scotland | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Långsjön | Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Sarnen / Sarnersee | Obwalden | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Lovozero | Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Oblast | Russia | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Drevviken | Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Mörtsjön | Huddinge | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Judarn | Bromma, Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Coniston Water | Lake District, Cumbria | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Ullswater | Lake District, Cumbria | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Khanka Lake | Heilongjiang Province, China and Primorsky Krai, Russia | China, Russia | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Monona | Dane County, Wisconsin | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Long Lake | Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Mooselookmeguntic Lake | Franklin County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Greifensee | Canton of Zurich | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Nainital Lake | Uttarakhand | India | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Manasbal Lake | Kashmir Valley | India | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Zurich / Zürichsee | Zürich | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Tegernsee | Bavaria | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Deer Creek Reservoir | Utah | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Orlången | Huddinge | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Haweswater Reservoir | Lake District, Cumbria | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Loch Shiel | Lochaber, Highland, Scotland | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Walen /Walensee / Lake Walenstadt | St. Gallen, Glarus | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Keoka Lake | Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Kootenay Lake | British Columbia | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Murten /Lac de Morat /Murtensee | Canton of Fribourg, Vaud | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Oeschinen Lake | Bernese Oberland | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac de Lessy | Haute-Savoie | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| East Grand Lake | Maine / New Brunswick | Canada, United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Ikeda | Kyūshū island | Japan | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Poyang | Jiujiang | China | Script error: No such module "sort".[3] |
| Faaker See | Carinthia | Austria | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Ossiacher See / Lake Ossiach | Carinthia | Austria | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Varese Lake/Lago di Varese | Province of Varese, Lombardy | Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Long Lost Lake | Clearwater County, Minnesota | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Ältasjön | Älta | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Thun / Thunersee | Canton of Bern | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Green Lake | Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Gömmaren | Huddinge | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Loch Lomond | Dunbartonshire, Central Scotland | Scotland, United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Balaton | Hungary | Hungary | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Rotoroa | Hamilton, Waikato, North Island | New Zealand | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Tūtira | Hawke's Bay, North Island | New Zealand | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Türlersee | Canton of Zurich | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Pfäffikersee | Canton of Zurich | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Caniapiscau Reservoir | Quebec | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Sils / Silsersee /Lej da Segl | Engadin, Grisons | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Wilersee | Canton of Zug | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Great Pond | Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Moberly Lake | British Columbia | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Päijänne | Jyväskylä | Finland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Erie | North America | Canada, United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Rangeley Lake | Franklin County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Brienz / Brienzersee | Canton of Bern | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Ammersee / Lake Ammer | Upper Bavaria | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Großer Plöner See | Schleswig-Holstein | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Paudash Lake | Haliburton County, Ontario | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Moosehead Lake | Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Trekanten | Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Great East Lake | Carroll County, New Hampshire; York County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Champlain | North America | Canada, United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Flathead Lake | Montana | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Lucerne /Vierwaldstättersee | Central Switzerland | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Winnipeg | Manitoba, Canada | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac de Paladru | Isère | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Hallwil / Hallwilersee | Aargau | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Flaten | Southern Stockholm | Sweden | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Annecy / Lac d'Annecy | Haute-Savoie | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Maggiore / Verbano / Lago Maggiore | Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy; Canton Ticino, Switzerland | Italy, Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Todos los Santos Lake | Los Lagos | Chile | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Baldegg / Baldeggersee | Canton of Lucerne | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Iseo / Lago d'Iseo | Lombardy | Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Constance / Bodensee | Germany, Switzerland, Austria | Germany, Switzerland, Austria | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Corey Lake | Michigan | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Elk and Beaver Lakes | Saanich, British Columbia | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Como | Lombardy | Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Mendota | Wisconsin | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Sea of Galilee | Galilee | Israel | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Walden Pond | Massachusetts | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". [4] |
| Bannwaldsee | Allgäu, Bavaria | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Sebago Lake | Cumberland County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Kennisis Lake | Haliburton Highlands, Ontario | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Bay Lake | Crow Wing County, Minnesota | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Biwa / 琵琶湖 | Shiga Prefecture | Japan | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Jordan Pond | Hancock County, Maine | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lago di Mergozzo | Piedmont | Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Ontario | North America | Canada, United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac la Nonne | Alberta | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lago di Candia | Province of Turin | Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Ägerisee | Canton of Zug | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Loch Morar | Morar, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland | United Kingdom | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Powell | Utah/Arizona | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Millstätter See / Lake Millstatt | Carinthia | Austria | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Moose Lake | Alberta | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Schaalsee | Schleswig-Holstein | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Iliamna Lake | Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lac du Bourget | Savoie, France | France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Odell Lake | Klamath County, Oregon | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Lugano /Lago di Lugano | Ticino, Lombardy | Switzerland, Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Neuchâtel / Lac de Neuchâtel / Neuenburgersee | Romandy | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Orta /Lago d’Orta /Cusio | Piedmont | Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Weissensee | Carinthia | Austria | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Quesnel Lake | British Columbia | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Schweriner See | Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Taupō | Taupō District, Waikato region, North Island | New Zealand | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Wörthersee / Lake Wörth | West of Klagenfurt | Austria | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Chelan | Washington | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Geneva | Switzerland, France | Switzerland, France | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Wakatipu | Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago Region, South Island | New Zealand | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Higgins Lake | Michigan | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Crescent Lake | Klamath County, Oregon | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Yellowstone Lake | Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming | United States | 14 years |
| Lake Zug / Zugersee | Central Switzerland | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Müritz | Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Western Brook Pond | Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Sempach / Sempachersee | Canton of Lucerne | Switzerland | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Skaneateles Lake | New York | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Cayuga Lake | New York | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Bear Lake | Idaho, Utah | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Green Lake | Green Lake County, Wisconsin | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Starnberg /Starnberger See | Bavaria | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Huron | North America | Canada, United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Garda / Lago di Garda | Northern Italy | Italy | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Waldo Lake | Cascade Mountains | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Crystal Lake | Benzie County, Michigan | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Columbia | Jackson County, Michigan | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Okanagan Lake | British Columbia | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Ohrid | Albania, North Macedonia | Script error: No such module "sort". | |
| Lake Michigan | Michigan | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Arendsee | Saxony-Anhalt | Germany | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Gull Lake | Alberta | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Yosemite | California | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Great Bear Lake | Northwest Territories | Canada | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Crater Lake | Oregon | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Superior | North America | Canada, United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Caspian Sea | Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan | Script error: No such module "sort". | |
| Lake Baikal | Southern Siberia | Russia | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Tahoe | California, Nevada | United States | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Titicaca | Peru, Bolivia | Script error: No such module "sort". | |
| Lake Eucumbene | Snowy Mountains, New South Wales | Australia | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lakes Qaban | Kazan | Russia | Script error: No such module "sort". |
| Lake Tanganyika | Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia | Script error: No such module "sort". | |
| Lake Vostok | Antarctica | Script error: No such module "sort". |
See also
References
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Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Further reading
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- Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
External links
- EPA's Great Lakes Factsheet #1
- EPA's Great Lakes Atlas
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". - relationship between residence time of lakes of New Zealand and koaro, smelt and common bully populations.