Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 29, 2026

Polymictic lake

Polymictic lakes are holomictic lakes that are too shallow to develop thermal stratification; thus, their waters can mix from top to bottom throughout the ice-free period. Polymictic lakes can be divided into cold polymictic lakes, and warm polymictic lakes. While such lakes are well-mixed on average, during low-wind periods, weak and ephemeral stratification can often develop.

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Polymictic lakes are holomictic lakes that are too shallow to develop thermal stratification; thus, their waters can mix from top to bottom throughout the ice-free period. Polymictic lakes can be divided into cold polymictic lakes (i.e., those that are ice-covered in winter), and warm polymictic lakes (i.e., polymictic lakes in regions where ice-cover does not develop in winter).1 While such lakes are well-mixed on average, during low-wind periods, weak and ephemeral stratification can often develop.23

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Lewis, William M. Jr. (1983). "A revised classification of lakes based on mixing" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 40 (10): 1779–1787. doi:10.1139/f83-207. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-06.
  2. Woolway, R. Iestyn; Meinson, Pille; Nõges, Peeter; Jones, Ian D.; Laas, Alo (2017-02-02). "Atmospheric stilling leads to prolonged thermal stratification in a large shallow polymictic lake". Climatic Change. 141 (4): 759–773. doi:10.1007/s10584-017-1909-0. ISSN 0165-0009.
  3. Xing, Zikun; Fong, Derek A.; Yat-Man Lo, Edmond; Monismith, Stephen G. (January 2014). "Thermal structure and variability of a shallow tropical reservoir". Limnology and Oceanography. 59 (1): 115–128. Bibcode:2014LimOc..59..115X. doi:10.4319/lo.2014.59.1.0115. hdl:10356/100083. ISSN 0024-3590.
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