The Life Cycle of a

Lake
 Water Chemistry Basics
 Water freezes at 0°Celsius (32° Fahrenheit)
 Most substances get more dense as they get colder
and less dense as they get warmer
 Water is WEIRD!
 Water is densest at 4° C (39° F)
 This means it becomes less dense as it warms up above 4°
C. It also becomes less dense as it gets colder from 4° C.
 Lake Cycle In One Year
 Lakes in temperate regions go through an
annual cycle.
 They will undergo times of stratification and
other times of mixing/turnover.
 Stratification = distinct layers of water at particular
temperatures occur in the lake
 Mixis/Turnover = water temperature in the lake is
generally the same
 Lake Cycle In One Year -
Summer
 Summer
 Sun heats up epilimnion (upper lake) to warm
temperatures.
 The densest water (4° C) always sits at lake bottom.
 The water stratifies by temperature/density layers as you go
to surface with warmer, less dense water on top.
 Oxygen and nutrients stay unmixed in their layers
 Lake Cycle In One Year - Fall
 Fall
 The upper layer becomes cooler and drops to 4° C and gets
mixed with lower depths as the wind blows.
 Now the lake is generally the same temperature, so water
does not stratify into layers. The water moves about freely
from deep to shallow depths. This is called turnover.
 Turnover means that nutrients and oxygen is “refreshed” in
the lake, as it freely moves about from where it was in
summer.
 Lake Cycle In One Year - Winter
 Winter
 The densest water (4° C) continues to sit at the lake bottom
 The upper layers are colder as the air temperature is below
freezing.
 The lake stratifies in temperature layers again. This time, the
warmest bands are at the lake bottom. The colder and less dense
water layers are closer to the lake surface.
 Ultimately, the upper surface could be at or below the freezing
point of water. This is why the lake freezes at the top, instead of
the bottom.
 Lake Cycle In One Year - Spring
 Spring
 The cold weather starts to warm up in the spring and the upper
surfaces get warmer.
 They start to match the same temperature as the lake bottom (4°
C ).
 Since the lake is generally the same temperature, the stratified
layers of different water temperatures go away and the water
moves about freely between different depths.
 Another turnover cycle occurs.
 Lake Cycle Over Millions of
Years (Trophic State)
 The natural process in which lakes
age is called eutrophication. Oligotrophic
This means that nutrients get
added into them over time.
 Eutrophication is a natural process
 Humans can accelerate the
process by adding nutrients at a Mesotrophic
faster rate. This process is called
cultural eutrophication.
 The 3 main stages of a lake’s life
are: Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic,
and Eutrophic.
Eutrophic
Oligotrophic Lake
 Little to no nutrients
added to the water.
 Low algae/plant growth
 Lower levels of
biodiversity (not as much
plant growth to start food
chain)
 Cold water temperatures
 High dissolved oxygen
 Sandy/rocky bottom
Mesotrophic Lake
• Moderate nutrients added
to the water.
• Medium algae/plant
growth
• Moderate levels of
biodiversity
• Moderate water
temperatures
• Midrange levels of
dissolved oxygen
• Slightly mucky bottom
Eutrophic Lake
• High levels of nutrients
added to the water.
• High algae/plant growth
• Highest levels of
biodiversity – extensive
plant life fuels extensive
food webs
• Warm water
temperatures
• Low dissolved oxygen
• Lake bottom with lots of
organic muck
Life of a Lake Over Millions+
Years
 Summary
 Eutrophication is the natural
process of lake aging when
nutrients gradually get added
to the water.
 Lakes go from oligotrophic
to mesotrophic to eutrophic
as more nutrients get added
 Cultural eutrophication is
when humans accelerate this
process by adding nutrients
into waterways via their
activities.