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The temperature stratification and related characteristics of Chilean lakes in midsummer

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Abstract

Temperature profiles in summer (February/March 1990) were measured in 24 lakes along a latitudinal transect from central Chile (32° S) to Patagonia (47° S), and on Easter Island (27° S). The lakes of the temperature zone, between 47° S and 38° S, are warm monomictic with surface and deep-water temperatures ranging from 12 °C to 21 °C and from 5.5 °C to 10 °C respectively. The heat content per unit area in midsummer was found to vary with lake area. The local stability of stratification (N 2) varied by more than two orders of magnitude, declining with increasing latitude, altitude, and depth. The lakes can be classified according to morphometric and temperature characteristics, mixing depth, stability of stratification and glacial turbidity. Lago General Carrera (463 m) was found to be almost as deep as Lago Nahuel Huapi (464 m), which is considered to be the deepest lake in South America.

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  1. Limnologisches Institut der Universität, D-7750, Konstanz, Germany

    Walter Geller

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  1. Walter Geller
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Geller, W. The temperature stratification and related characteristics of Chilean lakes in midsummer. Aquatic Science 54, 37–57 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877263

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877263

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