Physical limnology

Abstract

First, studying aquatic ecosystems, and lakes in particular, calls for interdisciplinary approaches. Even very specific natural in situ processes can hardly ever be viewed independent of the hosting environment. As a practical example, the dynamics of an algae species can not be understood without considering the distribution of nutrients (and other biogeochemical constituents), the stratification and mixing of the water column, as well as baroclinic motions and subsequent modulations of the light regime. In this sense, physical limnology is a crucial discipline for supporting the interpretation of in situ observations of any property, which is always evolving along the fundamental balance ∂/∂t(property)= Ratesof transformations - div(property fluxes) (13.1) In short, spatial and temporal changes of a property within the water column have always a transport component.