Negative thermal gradient under alpine lake in Hawaii

Author:

Woodcock, A.H., Groves, Gordon W.

Title:

Negative thermal gradient under alpine lake in Hawaii

Periodical:

Deep-Sea Research

Year:

1969

Volume:

16

Pages:

393-405

Subject:

Lake Waiau Lake sediments Temperatures

Summary:

A small body of water, known as Lake Waiau, is located at the 3960 meter level of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. Thermal probing of the sediments that were found in this lake was initiated to test the idea that the water is perched by ground ice. The purpose of this experiment was to present and discuss the observations that were made in an effort to answer a question regarding the survival of the lake. Through a series of twenty-one measurements that were made over a two-year period, a mean negative temperature gradient of about 0.052 degrees C/m was found within the first 6 m of sediment. However, the decrease in temperature with depth did not necessarily mean that ice existed below. This may have been a cold-rim effect that was caused by a lower mean temperature in the surrounding volcanic ash and lava than in the lake.

Label:

Lake Waiau

Date:

1969

Collection:

Periodicals