Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

On Recent Trends in Atmospheric and Limnological Variables in Lake Ontario

Anning Huang School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China, and National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

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Yerubandi R. Rao National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

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Weitao Zhang National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

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Print Publication:
01 Sep 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00495.1
Page(s):
5807–5816
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Abstract

The surface air and water temperatures increased at all seasonal and annual time scales during the last 40 yr in Lake Ontario. The annual mean air and surface water temperatures have increased by 1.43° ±0.39° and 1.26° ±0.32°C, respectively, over 1970–2009. The air temperature increased at a faster rate than the surface water temperature in winter and autumn, whereas in spring and summer the surface water temperature warmed faster than the air temperature. The length of summer stratified season has increased by 12 ± 2 days since the early 1970s due to the increase in water temperature. The decline of surface wind speed over Lake Ontario resulted in a shallower surface mixed layer and enhanced the summer thermal stratification, which increased the summer surface water temperature more rapidly than the air temperature.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Anning Huang, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. E-mail: anhuang@nju.edu.cn

Abstract

The surface air and water temperatures increased at all seasonal and annual time scales during the last 40 yr in Lake Ontario. The annual mean air and surface water temperatures have increased by 1.43° ±0.39° and 1.26° ±0.32°C, respectively, over 1970–2009. The air temperature increased at a faster rate than the surface water temperature in winter and autumn, whereas in spring and summer the surface water temperature warmed faster than the air temperature. The length of summer stratified season has increased by 12 ± 2 days since the early 1970s due to the increase in water temperature. The decline of surface wind speed over Lake Ontario resulted in a shallower surface mixed layer and enhanced the summer thermal stratification, which increased the summer surface water temperature more rapidly than the air temperature.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Anning Huang, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. E-mail: anhuang@nju.edu.cn
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