Effects of a 2 x CO2 climate on two large lake systems: Pyramid Lake, Nevada, and Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

S. W. Hostetler; Mary L. Giorgino

doi:10.1016/0921-8181(94)00019-a

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Effects of a 2 x CO2 climate on two large lake systems: Pyramid Lake, Nevada, and Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

S. W. Hostetler·Mary L. Giorgino

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Abstract

The possible effects of trace-gas induced climatic changes on Pyramid and Yellowstone Lakes are assessed using a model of lake temperature. The model is driven by 3 1 2 "> 312 years of hourly meteorological data obtained directly from the output of double-CO 2 experiments (2 × CO 2 ) conducted with a regional climate model nested in a general circulation model. The regional atmospheric model is the climate version of the National Center for Atmospheric Research/Pennsylvania State University mesoscale model, MM4. Average annual surface temperature of Pyramid Lake for the 2 × CO 2 climate is 15.5 ± 5.4°C (±1 σ), 2.8°C higher than the control. Annual overturn of the lake ceases as a result of these higher temperatures for the 2 × CO 2 climate. Evaporation increases from 1400 mm yr −1 in the control to 1595 mm yr −1 in the 2 × CO 2 simulation, but net water supplied to the Pyramid Lake basin increases from −6 mm yr −1 in the control to +27 mm yr −1 in the 2 × CO 2 simulation due to increased precipitation. For the open water periods, the average annual surface temperature of Yellowstone Lake is 13.2 ± 5.1°C for the 2 × CO 2 climate, a temperature 1.6°C higher than the control. The annual duration of ice cover on the lake is 152 days in the 2 × CO 2 simulation, a reduction of 44 days relative to the control. Warming of the lake for the 2 × CO 2 climate is mostly confined to the near-surface. Simulated spring overturn for the 2 × CO 2 climate occurs earlier in the year and fall overturn later than in the control. Evaporation increases from 544 mm yr −1 to 600 mm yr −1 in the 2 × CO 2 simulation, but net water supplied to the Yellowstone Lake basin increases from +373 mm yr −1 in the control to +619 mm yr −1 due to increased precipitation. The effects of these climatic changes suggest possible deterioration of water quality and productivity in Pyramid Lake and possible enhancement of productivity in Yellowstone Lake.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 39.79376521264885° to 44.63543682256858° latitude; -119.8004150390625° to -110.10772705078125° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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S. W. Hostetler, Mary L. Giorgino. 1995. Effects of a 2 x CO2 climate on two large lake systems: Pyramid Lake, Nevada, and Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming. https://doi.org/10.1016/0921-8181(94)00019-a

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