Cold Lakes

Abstract

Cold regions are richly endowed with lakes, the occurrence of which may or may not be related to the presence of permafrost. Lakes are maintained when long-term cumulative inputs exceed losses so that there is always enough storage to maintain a water body, at least for most of the time in most parts of the lake. Thus, the capacity and changing status of storage are of crucial importance to lake hydrology. In addition, lake hydrology in cold regions is strongly influenced by the seasonal presence of an ice cover which affects heat and moisture exchanges with the atmosphere and modifies water circulation in the lake.