Strong Under‐Ice Heating of Central Asian Shallow Lakes

Abstract Shallow lakes (<2 m depth) of Central Asian, receiving strong solar radiation and low precipitation, are sensitive to atmospheric forcing because of their low heat capacity, yet their under‐ice thermal conditions remain poorly investigated. We conducted the first complete ice season moni...

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Main Authors: Puzhen Huo, Peng Lu, Matti Leppäranta, Georgiy Kirillin, Bin Cheng, Fei Xie, Zhijun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114501
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author Puzhen Huo
Peng Lu
Matti Leppäranta
Georgiy Kirillin
Bin Cheng
Fei Xie
Zhijun Li
author_facet Puzhen Huo
Peng Lu
Matti Leppäranta
Georgiy Kirillin
Bin Cheng
Fei Xie
Zhijun Li
author_sort Puzhen Huo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Shallow lakes (<2 m depth) of Central Asian, receiving strong solar radiation and low precipitation, are sensitive to atmospheric forcing because of their low heat capacity, yet their under‐ice thermal conditions remain poorly investigated. We conducted the first complete ice season monitoring of Lake Ulansu (Ulansuhai, Wuliangsuhai), revealing unique thermal behavior. The lake was salinity stratified (<3‰), stabilizing the lower water layer and allowing the water temperature to reach 10°C before break‐up. The solar radiation absorbed by the water (Qsw) drove the water–ice heat flux, with approximately 82% of Qsw returning to the ice base, facilitating a rapid shift from convective mixing to stable stratification. These findings provide key insights into the thermal regimes of Central Asian shallow lakes, informing climate models and ecological assessments for more than 10,000 similar lakes in the region.
format Article
id doaj-art-5c47ad3ff8974b369249486ccbd7324f
institution Kabale University
issn 0094-8276
1944-8007
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-5c47ad3ff8974b369249486ccbd7324f2025-08-20T03:58:44ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-07-015214n/an/a10.1029/2024GL114501Strong Under‐Ice Heating of Central Asian Shallow LakesPuzhen Huo0Peng Lu1Matti Leppäranta2Georgiy Kirillin3Bin Cheng4Fei Xie5Zhijun Li6State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering Dalian University of Technology Dalian ChinaState Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering Dalian University of Technology Dalian ChinaUniversity of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandDepartment of Ecohydrology Leibniz‐Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) Berlin GermanyFinnish Meteorological Institute Helsinki FinlandState Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering Dalian University of Technology Dalian ChinaState Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering Dalian University of Technology Dalian ChinaAbstract Shallow lakes (<2 m depth) of Central Asian, receiving strong solar radiation and low precipitation, are sensitive to atmospheric forcing because of their low heat capacity, yet their under‐ice thermal conditions remain poorly investigated. We conducted the first complete ice season monitoring of Lake Ulansu (Ulansuhai, Wuliangsuhai), revealing unique thermal behavior. The lake was salinity stratified (<3‰), stabilizing the lower water layer and allowing the water temperature to reach 10°C before break‐up. The solar radiation absorbed by the water (Qsw) drove the water–ice heat flux, with approximately 82% of Qsw returning to the ice base, facilitating a rapid shift from convective mixing to stable stratification. These findings provide key insights into the thermal regimes of Central Asian shallow lakes, informing climate models and ecological assessments for more than 10,000 similar lakes in the region.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114501lake iceCentral Asia shallow lakewater‐ice heat fluxunder‐ice thermal conditionssolar radiationlake‐atmosphere heat exchange
spellingShingle Puzhen Huo
Peng Lu
Matti Leppäranta
Georgiy Kirillin
Bin Cheng
Fei Xie
Zhijun Li
Strong Under‐Ice Heating of Central Asian Shallow Lakes
Geophysical Research Letters
lake ice
Central Asia shallow lake
water‐ice heat flux
under‐ice thermal conditions
solar radiation
lake‐atmosphere heat exchange
title Strong Under‐Ice Heating of Central Asian Shallow Lakes
title_full Strong Under‐Ice Heating of Central Asian Shallow Lakes
title_fullStr Strong Under‐Ice Heating of Central Asian Shallow Lakes
title_full_unstemmed Strong Under‐Ice Heating of Central Asian Shallow Lakes
title_short Strong Under‐Ice Heating of Central Asian Shallow Lakes
title_sort strong under ice heating of central asian shallow lakes
topic lake ice
Central Asia shallow lake
water‐ice heat flux
under‐ice thermal conditions
solar radiation
lake‐atmosphere heat exchange
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114501
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AT penglu strongundericeheatingofcentralasianshallowlakes
AT mattilepparanta strongundericeheatingofcentralasianshallowlakes
AT georgiykirillin strongundericeheatingofcentralasianshallowlakes
AT bincheng strongundericeheatingofcentralasianshallowlakes
AT feixie strongundericeheatingofcentralasianshallowlakes
AT zhijunli strongundericeheatingofcentralasianshallowlakes