Water Temp

mg2107 · 01-30-2007, 11:50 AM

Why as cold as it has been did the water temp go up 2 Degrees since yesterday ?

BoulderBronco · 01-30-2007, 12:49 PM

I was wondering the same thing.

Merrymeeting · 01-30-2007, 01:38 PM

Keep in mind that the gauge is 4 feet down, now under the ice. I'm sure that once the lake completely freezes over, as it has now, the environment under the ice can be very different from that above.

If you read this interesting description of lake flip from the Squam site, I suspect it might have something to do with temperature layer changes in the water under the lake.

http://www.squamlakes.org/sla/ecology.htm

Dave R · 01-30-2007, 03:11 PM

My theory:

Prior to icing up, the lake was radiating heat at the surface. Ice slows that process down quite a bit and now the lake is struggling to reach an equilibrium between ground temperature (around 50 degrees year-round below the frost line (3-4 feet)), ice water temperature (32 degrees F) , and air temperature (variable).

This'nThat · 01-30-2007, 07:26 PM

If you take a look at water temperatures for January, February, and March over the past 6 years, you will notice that they remain the same (within a narrow range from 33 - 38 degrees F) over that entire 3-month period. This time period is when ice covers the lake. Day-to-day variations within that range mean nothing so far as ice-cover is concerned.

These historical records show that when the water temperature falls below 37 degrees and the air temperature falls well below freezing, ice forms -- and after the ice forms, water temperature variations are meaningless -- they don't provide clues as to what's happening on the lake surface.

fatlazyless · 01-30-2007, 07:27 PM

Driving past the Squam River today in Ashland, I was surprised to see a lot of open water for about one mile. That's the outflow for the Squam Lakes and starts below the dam on Little Squam Lake.

There's been lots of sunshine for the past week and the hours of daylight are getting longer so could it be the start of the spring warm-up? Will be interesting to watch the temp readings for the next week.

fatlazyless · 01-31-2007, 09:37 AM

...thirty-four?....what's up wit this 34 number....I demand a recount!....how can it go from 37 to 34 in one overnight....it must be rigged!....funny how I'm predisposed to be looking for an early warming trend......hey, if you still had a boat in the lake, so would you!.....34.....oh no.....rant & rave.....the Weather Channel is calling for an early spring with a warmimg trend starting on February one......and that's a fact.....well, maybe! ......ahem!

Island Girl · 01-31-2007, 09:43 AM

Give it up FLL; winter has arrived (I would take that outdrive out of the water in case you lose power). Spring has not sprung.. yet. We shall see what Puxatauney Phil has to say on Friday.... you may get lucky.

Perhaps we will buzz by FL3 on our snowmobiles soon!

and take a look at Hut Hut!

IG

01-30-2007, 11:50 AM	#1
mg2107 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 169 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Water Temp Why as cold as it has been did the water temp go up 2 Degrees since yesterday ?

01-31-2007, 09:37 AM	#7
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,736 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	....... 34.....!? ...thirty-four?....what's up wit this 34 number....I demand a recount!....how can it go from 37 to 34 in one overnight....it must be rigged!....funny how I'm predisposed to be looking for an early warming trend......hey, if you still had a boat in the lake, so would you!.....34.....oh no.....rant & rave.....the Weather Channel is calling for an early spring with a warmimg trend starting on February one......and that's a fact.....well, maybe! ......ahem!

01-31-2007, 09:43 AM	#8
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Winter Give it up FLL; winter has arrived (I would take that outdrive out of the water in case you lose power). Spring has not sprung.. yet. We shall see what Puxatauney Phil has to say on Friday.... you may get lucky. Perhaps we will buzz by FL3 on our snowmobiles soon! and take a look at Hut Hut! IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

01-30-2007, 12:49 PM	#2
BoulderBronco Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 121 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I was wondering the same thing.

01-30-2007, 01:38 PM	#3
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	Keep in mind that the gauge is 4 feet down, now under the ice. I'm sure that once the lake completely freezes over, as it has now, the environment under the ice can be very different from that above. If you read this interesting description of lake flip from the Squam site, I suspect it might have something to do with temperature layer changes in the water under the lake. http://www.squamlakes.org/sla/ecology.htm

01-30-2007, 03:11 PM	#4
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,984 Thanks: 246 Thanked 743 Times in 443 Posts	My theory: Prior to icing up, the lake was radiating heat at the surface. Ice slows that process down quite a bit and now the lake is struggling to reach an equilibrium between ground temperature (around 50 degrees year-round below the frost line (3-4 feet)), ice water temperature (32 degrees F) , and air temperature (variable).

01-30-2007, 07:26 PM	#5
This'nThat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 534 Thanks: 19 Thanked 134 Times in 61 Posts	If you take a look at water temperatures for January, February, and March over the past 6 years, you will notice that they remain the same (within a narrow range from 33 - 38 degrees F) over that entire 3-month period. This time period is when ice covers the lake. Day-to-day variations within that range mean nothing so far as ice-cover is concerned. These historical records show that when the water temperature falls below 37 degrees and the air temperature falls well below freezing, ice forms -- and after the ice forms, water temperature variations are meaningless -- they don't provide clues as to what's happening on the lake surface.

01-30-2007, 07:27 PM	#6
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,736 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	Driving past the Squam River today in Ashland, I was surprised to see a lot of open water for about one mile. That's the outflow for the Squam Lakes and starts below the dam on Little Squam Lake. There's been lots of sunshine for the past week and the hours of daylight are getting longer so could it be the start of the spring warm-up? Will be interesting to watch the temp readings for the next week.