Articles | Volume 29, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3569-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3569-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
07 Aug 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 07 Aug 2025
| 07 Aug 2025
Consequences of the Aral Sea restoration for its present physical state: temperature, mixing, and oxygen regime
Georgiy B. Kirillin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
Tom Shatwell
Department of Environmental Engineering and Applied Computer Science, Lemgo, Germany, Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Germany
Alexander S. Izhitskiy
Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Mengxiao Wang, Lijuan Wen, Zhaoguo Li, Matti Leppäranta, Victor Stepanenko, Yixin Zhao, Ruijia Niu, Liuyiyi Yang, and Georgiy Kirillin
The Cryosphere, 16, 3635–3648, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3635-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3635-2022, 2022
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The under-ice water temperature of Ngoring Lake has been rising based on in situ observations. We obtained results showing that strong downward shortwave radiation is the main meteorological factor, and precipitation, wind speed, downward longwave radiation, air temperature, ice albedo, and ice extinction coefficient have an impact on the range and rate of lake temperature rise. Once the ice breaks, the lake body releases more energy than other lakes, whose water temperature remains horizontal.
Malgorzata Golub, Wim Thiery, Rafael Marcé, Don Pierson, Inne Vanderkelen, Daniel Mercado-Bettin, R. Iestyn Woolway, Luke Grant, Eleanor Jennings, Benjamin M. Kraemer, Jacob Schewe, Fang Zhao, Katja Frieler, Matthias Mengel, Vasiliy Y. Bogomolov, Damien Bouffard, Marianne Côté, Raoul-Marie Couture, Andrey V. Debolskiy, Bram Droppers, Gideon Gal, Mingyang Guo, Annette B. G. Janssen, Georgiy Kirillin, Robert Ladwig, Madeline Magee, Tadhg Moore, Marjorie Perroud, Sebastiano Piccolroaz, Love Raaman Vinnaa, Martin Schmid, Tom Shatwell, Victor M. Stepanenko, Zeli Tan, Bronwyn Woodward, Huaxia Yao, Rita Adrian, Mathew Allan, Orlane Anneville, Lauri Arvola, Karen Atkins, Leon Boegman, Cayelan Carey, Kyle Christianson, Elvira de Eyto, Curtis DeGasperi, Maria Grechushnikova, Josef Hejzlar, Klaus Joehnk, Ian D. Jones, Alo Laas, Eleanor B. Mackay, Ivan Mammarella, Hampus Markensten, Chris McBride, Deniz Özkundakci, Miguel Potes, Karsten Rinke, Dale Robertson, James A. Rusak, Rui Salgado, Leon van der Linden, Piet Verburg, Danielle Wain, Nicole K. Ward, Sabine Wollrab, and Galina Zdorovennova
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 4597–4623, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4597-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4597-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Lakes and reservoirs are warming across the globe. To better understand how lakes are changing and to project their future behavior amidst various sources of uncertainty, simulations with a range of lake models are required. This in turn requires international coordination across different lake modelling teams worldwide. Here we present a protocol for and results from coordinated simulations of climate change impacts on lakes worldwide.
Manuel C. Almeida, Yurii Shevchuk, Georgiy Kirillin, Pedro M. M. Soares, Rita M. Cardoso, José P. Matos, Ricardo M. Rebelo, António C. Rodrigues, and Pedro S. Coelho
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 173–197, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-173-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-173-2022, 2022
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In this study, we have evaluated the importance of the input of energy conveyed by river inflows into lakes and reservoirs when modeling surface water energy fluxes. Our results suggest that there is a strong correlation between water residence time and the surface water temperature prediction error and that the combined use of process-based physical models and machine-learning models will considerably improve the modeling of air–lake heat and moisture fluxes.
Georgiy Kirillin, Ilya Aslamov, Vladimir Kozlov, Roman Zdorovennov, and Nikolai Granin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1691–1708, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1691-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1691-2020, 2020
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We found that heat transported from Lake Baikal to its ice cover is up to 10 times higher than traditionally assumed and strongly affects the ice melting. The heat is transported by under-ice currents on the background of a strong temperature gradient between the ice base and warmer waters beneath. To parameterize this newly quantified transport mechanism, an original boundary layer model was developed. The results are crucial for understanding seasonal ice dynamics on lakes and marginal seas.
Dongsheng Su, Xiuqing Hu, Lijuan Wen, Shihua Lyu, Xiaoqing Gao, Lin Zhao, Zhaoguo Li, Juan Du, and Georgiy Kirillin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2093–2109, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2093-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2093-2019, 2019
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In this study, freshwater lake model simulation results, verified by satellite and buoy observation data, were used to quantify recent climate change effects on the thermal regime of the largest lake in China. Results indicate that the FLake model can reproduce the lake thermal pattern nicely. The lake surface is warming, while the lake bottom has no significant trend. Climate change also caused an earlier ice-off and later ice-on, leading to an obvious change in the energy balance of the lake.
Tom Shatwell, Wim Thiery, and Georgiy Kirillin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1533–1551, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1533-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1533-2019, 2019
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We used models to project future temperature and mixing in temperate lakes. Lakes will probably warm faster in winter than in summer, making ice less frequent and altering mixing. We found that the layers that form seasonally in lakes (ice, stratification) and water clarity affect how lakes accumulate heat. Seasonal changes in climate were thus important. This helps us better understand how different lake types respond to warming and which physical changes to expect in the future.
Georgiy Kirillin, Ilya Aslamov, Matti Leppäranta, and Elisa Lindgren
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6493–6504, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6493-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6493-2018, 2018
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We have discovered transient appearances of strong turbulent mixing beneath the ice of an Arctic lake. Such mixing events increase heating of the ice base up to an order of magnitude and can significantly accelerate ice melting. The source of mixing was identified as oscillations of the entire lake water body triggered by strong winds over the lake surface. This previously unknown mechanism of ice melt may help understand the link between the climate conditions and the seasonal ice formation.
Peter O. Zavialov, Alexander S. Izhitskiy, Georgiy B. Kirillin, Valentina M. Khan, Boris V. Konovalov, Peter N. Makkaveev, Vadim V. Pelevin, Nikolay A. Rimskiy-Korsakov, Salmor A. Alymkulov, and Kubanychbek M. Zhumaliev
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6279–6295, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6279-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6279-2018, 2018
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This paper reports the results of field surveys conducted in Lake Issyk-Kul in 2015–2017 and compares the present-day data with the available historical records. Our data do not confirm the reports of progressive warming of the deep Issyk-Kul waters as suggested in some previous publications. However, they do indicate a positive trend of salinity in the lake’s interior over the last 3 decades. An important newly found feature is a persistent salinity maximum at depths of 70–120 m.
Georgiy Kirillin, Lijuan Wen, and Tom Shatwell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1895–1909, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1895-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1895-2017, 2017
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We report a first description of the seasonal temperature, mixing, and ice regime in the two largest freshwater lakes of the Tibetan Plateau. We perform a validation of lake model FLake for the parameterization of the Tibetan lake system in regional climate models and present evidence of the absent warming trend in the Tibetan lakes despite significant atmospheric warming. The reason for this unexpected behavior is the significant decrease in solar radiation at the surface.
J. Boike, C. Georgi, G. Kirilin, S. Muster, K. Abramova, I. Fedorova, A. Chetverova, M. Grigoriev, N. Bornemann, and M. Langer
Biogeosciences, 12, 5941–5965, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-5941-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-5941-2015, 2015
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We show that lakes in northern Siberia are very efficient with respect to energy absorption and mixing using measurements as well as numerical modeling. We show that (i) the lakes receive substantial energy for warming from net short-wave radiation; (ii) convective mixing occurs beneath the ice cover, follow beneath the ice cover, following ice break-up, summer, and fall (iii) modeling suggests that the annual mean net heat flux across the bottom sediment boundary is approximately zero.
G. Kirillin, M. S. Lorang, T. C. Lippmann, C. C. Gotschalk, and S. Schimmelpfennig
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2605–2615, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2605-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2605-2015, 2015
Mengxiao Wang, Lijuan Wen, Zhaoguo Li, Matti Leppäranta, Victor Stepanenko, Yixin Zhao, Ruijia Niu, Liuyiyi Yang, and Georgiy Kirillin
The Cryosphere, 16, 3635–3648, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3635-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3635-2022, 2022
Short summary
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The under-ice water temperature of Ngoring Lake has been rising based on in situ observations. We obtained results showing that strong downward shortwave radiation is the main meteorological factor, and precipitation, wind speed, downward longwave radiation, air temperature, ice albedo, and ice extinction coefficient have an impact on the range and rate of lake temperature rise. Once the ice breaks, the lake body releases more energy than other lakes, whose water temperature remains horizontal.
Malgorzata Golub, Wim Thiery, Rafael Marcé, Don Pierson, Inne Vanderkelen, Daniel Mercado-Bettin, R. Iestyn Woolway, Luke Grant, Eleanor Jennings, Benjamin M. Kraemer, Jacob Schewe, Fang Zhao, Katja Frieler, Matthias Mengel, Vasiliy Y. Bogomolov, Damien Bouffard, Marianne Côté, Raoul-Marie Couture, Andrey V. Debolskiy, Bram Droppers, Gideon Gal, Mingyang Guo, Annette B. G. Janssen, Georgiy Kirillin, Robert Ladwig, Madeline Magee, Tadhg Moore, Marjorie Perroud, Sebastiano Piccolroaz, Love Raaman Vinnaa, Martin Schmid, Tom Shatwell, Victor M. Stepanenko, Zeli Tan, Bronwyn Woodward, Huaxia Yao, Rita Adrian, Mathew Allan, Orlane Anneville, Lauri Arvola, Karen Atkins, Leon Boegman, Cayelan Carey, Kyle Christianson, Elvira de Eyto, Curtis DeGasperi, Maria Grechushnikova, Josef Hejzlar, Klaus Joehnk, Ian D. Jones, Alo Laas, Eleanor B. Mackay, Ivan Mammarella, Hampus Markensten, Chris McBride, Deniz Özkundakci, Miguel Potes, Karsten Rinke, Dale Robertson, James A. Rusak, Rui Salgado, Leon van der Linden, Piet Verburg, Danielle Wain, Nicole K. Ward, Sabine Wollrab, and Galina Zdorovennova
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 4597–4623, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4597-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4597-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Lakes and reservoirs are warming across the globe. To better understand how lakes are changing and to project their future behavior amidst various sources of uncertainty, simulations with a range of lake models are required. This in turn requires international coordination across different lake modelling teams worldwide. Here we present a protocol for and results from coordinated simulations of climate change impacts on lakes worldwide.
Manuel C. Almeida, Yurii Shevchuk, Georgiy Kirillin, Pedro M. M. Soares, Rita M. Cardoso, José P. Matos, Ricardo M. Rebelo, António C. Rodrigues, and Pedro S. Coelho
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 173–197, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-173-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-173-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we have evaluated the importance of the input of energy conveyed by river inflows into lakes and reservoirs when modeling surface water energy fluxes. Our results suggest that there is a strong correlation between water residence time and the surface water temperature prediction error and that the combined use of process-based physical models and machine-learning models will considerably improve the modeling of air–lake heat and moisture fluxes.
Georgiy Kirillin, Ilya Aslamov, Vladimir Kozlov, Roman Zdorovennov, and Nikolai Granin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1691–1708, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1691-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1691-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We found that heat transported from Lake Baikal to its ice cover is up to 10 times higher than traditionally assumed and strongly affects the ice melting. The heat is transported by under-ice currents on the background of a strong temperature gradient between the ice base and warmer waters beneath. To parameterize this newly quantified transport mechanism, an original boundary layer model was developed. The results are crucial for understanding seasonal ice dynamics on lakes and marginal seas.
Dongsheng Su, Xiuqing Hu, Lijuan Wen, Shihua Lyu, Xiaoqing Gao, Lin Zhao, Zhaoguo Li, Juan Du, and Georgiy Kirillin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2093–2109, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2093-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2093-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, freshwater lake model simulation results, verified by satellite and buoy observation data, were used to quantify recent climate change effects on the thermal regime of the largest lake in China. Results indicate that the FLake model can reproduce the lake thermal pattern nicely. The lake surface is warming, while the lake bottom has no significant trend. Climate change also caused an earlier ice-off and later ice-on, leading to an obvious change in the energy balance of the lake.
Tom Shatwell, Wim Thiery, and Georgiy Kirillin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1533–1551, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1533-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1533-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We used models to project future temperature and mixing in temperate lakes. Lakes will probably warm faster in winter than in summer, making ice less frequent and altering mixing. We found that the layers that form seasonally in lakes (ice, stratification) and water clarity affect how lakes accumulate heat. Seasonal changes in climate were thus important. This helps us better understand how different lake types respond to warming and which physical changes to expect in the future.
Georgiy Kirillin, Ilya Aslamov, Matti Leppäranta, and Elisa Lindgren
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6493–6504, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6493-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6493-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We have discovered transient appearances of strong turbulent mixing beneath the ice of an Arctic lake. Such mixing events increase heating of the ice base up to an order of magnitude and can significantly accelerate ice melting. The source of mixing was identified as oscillations of the entire lake water body triggered by strong winds over the lake surface. This previously unknown mechanism of ice melt may help understand the link between the climate conditions and the seasonal ice formation.
Peter O. Zavialov, Alexander S. Izhitskiy, Georgiy B. Kirillin, Valentina M. Khan, Boris V. Konovalov, Peter N. Makkaveev, Vadim V. Pelevin, Nikolay A. Rimskiy-Korsakov, Salmor A. Alymkulov, and Kubanychbek M. Zhumaliev
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6279–6295, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6279-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6279-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This paper reports the results of field surveys conducted in Lake Issyk-Kul in 2015–2017 and compares the present-day data with the available historical records. Our data do not confirm the reports of progressive warming of the deep Issyk-Kul waters as suggested in some previous publications. However, they do indicate a positive trend of salinity in the lake’s interior over the last 3 decades. An important newly found feature is a persistent salinity maximum at depths of 70–120 m.
Georgiy Kirillin, Lijuan Wen, and Tom Shatwell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1895–1909, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1895-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1895-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We report a first description of the seasonal temperature, mixing, and ice regime in the two largest freshwater lakes of the Tibetan Plateau. We perform a validation of lake model FLake for the parameterization of the Tibetan lake system in regional climate models and present evidence of the absent warming trend in the Tibetan lakes despite significant atmospheric warming. The reason for this unexpected behavior is the significant decrease in solar radiation at the surface.
J. Boike, C. Georgi, G. Kirilin, S. Muster, K. Abramova, I. Fedorova, A. Chetverova, M. Grigoriev, N. Bornemann, and M. Langer
Biogeosciences, 12, 5941–5965, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-5941-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-5941-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
We show that lakes in northern Siberia are very efficient with respect to energy absorption and mixing using measurements as well as numerical modeling. We show that (i) the lakes receive substantial energy for warming from net short-wave radiation; (ii) convective mixing occurs beneath the ice cover, follow beneath the ice cover, following ice break-up, summer, and fall (iii) modeling suggests that the annual mean net heat flux across the bottom sediment boundary is approximately zero.
G. Kirillin, M. S. Lorang, T. C. Lippmann, C. C. Gotschalk, and S. Schimmelpfennig
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2605–2615, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2605-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2605-2015, 2015
Related subject area
Subject: Rivers and Lakes | Techniques and Approaches: Instruments and observation techniques
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Implications of variations in stream specific conductivity for estimating baseflow using chemical mass balance and calibrated hydrograph techniques
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Evolution and dynamics of the vertical temperature profile in an oligotrophic lake
Long-term changes in central European river discharge for 1869–2016: impact of changing snow covers, reservoir constructions and an intensified hydrological cycle
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Small dams alter thermal regimes of downstream water
Oxycline oscillations induced by internal waves in deep Lake Iseo
Turbulent mixing and heat fluxes under lake ice: the role of seiche oscillations
New profiling and mooring records help to assess variability of Lake Issyk-Kul and reveal unknown features of its thermohaline structure
Evaluation of lacustrine groundwater discharge, hydrologic partitioning, and nutrient budgets in a proglacial lake in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: using 222Rn and stable isotopes
Long-term temporal trajectories to enhance restoration efficiency and sustainability on large rivers: an interdisciplinary study
Active heat pulse sensing of 3-D-flow fields in streambeds
Technical note: False low turbidity readings from optical probes during high suspended-sediment concentrations
Effectiveness of distributed temperature measurements for early detection of piping in river embankments
Citizen observations contributing to flood modelling: opportunities and challenges
Dead Sea evaporation by eddy covariance measurements vs. aerodynamic, energy budget, Priestley–Taylor, and Penman estimates
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Identifying, characterizing and predicting spatial patterns of lacustrine groundwater discharge
Information content of stream level class data for hydrological model calibration
Hydrology of inland tropical lowlands: the Kapuas and Mahakam wetlands
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Application of CryoSat-2 altimetry data for river analysis and modelling
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Using radon to understand parafluvial flows and the changing locations of groundwater inflows in the Avon River, southeast Australia
Influence of environmental factors on spectral characteristics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Inner Mongolia Plateau, China
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EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-837, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-837, 2025
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This study focused on the sources of the Zambezi River, revealing new insights into its longest tributary and Angola’s key role in its flow. River expeditions and earth observation data show that Angola contributes over 70 % of the river's flow upstream of a major floodplain. We highlight Angola’s wetlands, which support river health and help mitigate pollution. These findings stress the need for improved monitoring and regional cooperation to protect the Zambezi River Basin and its ecosystems.
Matthew Perks, Borbála Hortobágyi, Nick Everard, Susan Manson, Juliet Rowland, Andrew Large, and Andrew Russell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-213, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-213, 2025
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
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Accurate river flow measurements are essential for understanding river processes. This study evaluates the freely-available software, KLT-IV, for automatic river surface velocity measurement. Analysing over 11,000 videos and comparing them with 303 traditional flow measurements, we find strong correlations (r² = 0.95–0.97) between KLT-IV and traditional methods. KLT-IV effectively estimates river flow with high accuracy, making it a valuable tool for autonomous water resource management.
Domenico Miglino, Khim Cathleen Saddi, Francesco Isgrò, Seifeddine Jomaa, Michael Rode, and Salvatore Manfreda
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2172, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2172, 2024
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Turbidity is a key factor for water quality monitoring. We tested an image-based procedure in a full-scale river monitoring experiment using digital cameras. This procedure can increase our knowledge of the real status of water bodies, solving the spatial and temporal data resolution problems of the existing techniques, promoting also the development of early warning networks, moving water research forward thanks to a large increase of information and the reduction of operating expenses.
Evan J. Wilcox, Brent B. Wolfe, and Philip Marsh
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2173–2188, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2173-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2173-2023, 2023
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The Arctic is warming quickly and influencing lake water balances. We used water isotope concentrations taken from samples of 25 lakes in the Canadian Arctic and estimated the average ratio of evaporation to inflow (E / I) for each lake. The ratio of watershed area (the area that flows into the lake) to lake area (WA / LA) strongly predicted E / I, as lakes with relatively smaller watersheds received less inflow. The WA / LA could be used to predict the vulnerability of Arctic lakes to future change.
Monika Barbara Kalinowska, Kaisa Västilä, Michael Nones, Adam Kiczko, Emilia Karamuz, Andrzej Brandyk, Adam Kozioł, and Marcin Krukowski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 953–968, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-953-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-953-2023, 2023
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Vegetation is commonly found in rivers and channels. Using field investigations, we evaluated the influence of different vegetation coverages on the flow and mixing in the small naturally vegetated channel. The obtained results are expected to be helpful for practitioners, enlarge our still limited knowledge, and show the further required scientific directions for a better understanding of the influence of vegetation on the flow and mixing of dissolved substances in real natural conditions.
Evan J. Wilcox, Brent B. Wolfe, and Philip Marsh
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6185–6205, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6185-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6185-2022, 2022
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We estimated how much of the water flowing into lakes during snowmelt replaced the pre-snowmelt lake water. Our data show that, as lake depth increases, the amount of water mixed into lakes decreased, because vertical mixing is reduced as lake depth increases. Our data also show that the water mixing into lakes is not solely snow-sourced but is a mixture of snowmelt and soil water. These results are relevant for lake biogeochemistry given the unique properties of snowmelt runoff.
Francesca Zanetti, Nicola Durighetto, Filippo Vingiani, and Gianluca Botter
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3497–3516, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3497-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3497-2022, 2022
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River networks are highly dynamical. Characterizing expansion and retraction of flowing streams is a significant scientific challenge. Electrical resistance sensors were used to monitor stream network patterns in an alpine catchment. Our data show the presence of spatial heterogeneity in network dynamics and that the active length is more sensitive than discharge to small rain events. The study unravels potentials and limitations of the sensors for the characterization of temporary streams.
Pradip Kumar Maurya, Frederik Ersted Christensen, Masson Andy Kass, Jesper B. Pedersen, Rasmus R. Frederiksen, Nikolaj Foged, Anders Vest Christiansen, and Esben Auken
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2813–2827, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2813-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2813-2022, 2022
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In this paper, we present an application of the electromagnetic method to image the subsurface below rivers, lakes, or any surface water body. The scanning of the subsurface is carried out by sailing an electromagnetic sensor called FloaTEM. Imaging results show a 3D distribution of different sediment types below the freshwater lakes. In the case of saline water, the system is capable of identifying the probable location of groundwater discharge into seawater.
Samuel De Xun Chua, Xi Xi Lu, Chantha Oeurng, Ty Sok, and Carl Grundy-Warr
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 609–625, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-609-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-609-2022, 2022
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We found that the annual flood at the Cambodian floodplains decreased from 1960 to 2019. Consequently, the Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southeast Asia, is shrinking. The results are worrying because the local fisheries and planting calendar might be disrupted. This drastic decline of flooding extent is caused mostly by local factors, namely water withdrawal for irrigation and channel incision from sand mining activities.
Tomy Doda, Cintia L. Ramón, Hugo N. Ulloa, Alfred Wüest, and Damien Bouffard
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 331–353, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-331-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-331-2022, 2022
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At night or during cold periods, the shallow littoral region of lakes cools faster than their deeper interior. This induces a cold downslope current that carries littoral waters offshore. From a 1-year-long database collected in a small temperate lake, we resolve the seasonality of this current and report its frequent occurrence from summer to winter. This study contributes to a better quantification of lateral exchange in lakes, with implications for the transport of dissolved compounds.
Ian Cartwright
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 183–195, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-183-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-183-2022, 2022
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Using specific conductivity (SC) to estimate groundwater inflow to rivers is complicated by bank return waters, interflow, and flows off floodplains contributing to baseflow in all but the driest years. Using the maximum SC of the river in dry years to estimate the SC of groundwater produces the best baseflow vs. streamflow trends. The variable composition of baseflow hinders calibration of hydrograph-based techniques to estimate groundwater inflows.
Gerardo Benito, Olegario Castillo, Juan A. Ballesteros-Cánovas, Maria Machado, and Mariano Barriendos
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 6107–6132, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6107-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-6107-2021, 2021
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Climate change is expected to increase the intensity of floods, but changes are difficult to project. We compiled historical and modern flood data of the Rio Duero (Spain) to evaluate flood hazards beyond decadal climate cycles. Historical floods were obtained from documentary sources, identifying 69 floods over 1250–1871 CE. Discharges were calculated from reported flood heights. Flood frequency using historical datasets showed the most robust results, guiding climate change adaptation.
Yanbin Lei, Tandong Yao, Kun Yang, Lazhu, Yaoming Ma, and Broxton W. Bird
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3163–3177, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3163-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-3163-2021, 2021
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Lake evaporation from Paiku Co on the TP is low in spring and summer and high in autumn and early winter. There is a ~ 5-month lag between net radiation and evaporation due to large lake heat storage. High evaporation and low inflow cause significant lake-level decrease in autumn and early winter, while low evaporation and high inflow cause considerable lake-level increase in summer. This study implies that evaporation can affect the different amplitudes of lake-level variations on the TP.
Frederic Thalasso, Katey Walter Anthony, Olya Irzak, Ethan Chaleff, Laughlin Barker, Peter Anthony, Philip Hanke, and Rodrigo Gonzalez-Valencia
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 6047–6058, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-6047-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-6047-2020, 2020
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Methane (CH4) seepage is the steady or episodic flow of gaseous hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs that has been identified as a significant source of atmospheric CH4. The monitoring of these emissions is important and despite several available methods, large macroseeps are still difficult to measure due to a lack of a lightweight and inexpensive method deployable in remote environments. Here, we report the development of a mobile chamber for measuring intense CH4 macroseepage in lakes.
Shangbin Xiao, Liu Liu, Wei Wang, Andreas Lorke, Jason Woodhouse, and Hans-Peter Grossart
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3871–3880, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3871-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3871-2020, 2020
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To better understand the fate of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in freshwaters, dissolved CH4 and CO2 need to be measured with a high temporal resolution. We developed the Fast-Response Automated Gas Equilibrator (FaRAGE) for real-time in situ measurement of dissolved gases in water. FaRAGE can achieve a short response time (CH4:
t95 % = 12 s; CO2:
t95 % = 10 s) while retaining a high equilibration ratio and accuracy.
Nguyen Thanh Duc, Samuel Silverstein, Martin Wik, Patrick Crill, David Bastviken, and Ruth K. Varner
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3417–3430, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3417-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3417-2020, 2020
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Under rapid ongoing climate change, accurate quantification of natural greenhouse gas emissions in aquatic environments such as lakes and ponds is needed to understand regulation and feedbacks. Building on the rapid development in wireless communication, sensors, and computation technology, we present a low-cost, open-source, automated and remotely accessed and controlled device for carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from open-water environments along with tests showing their potential.
Zvjezdana B. Klaić, Karmen Babić, and Mirko Orlić
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3399–3416, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3399-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3399-2020, 2020
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Fine-resolution lake temperature measurements (2 min, 15 depths) show different lake responses to atmospheric forcings: (1) continuous diurnal oscillations in the temperature in the first 5 m of the lake, (2) occasional diurnal oscillations in the temperature at depths from 7 to 20 m, and (3) occasional surface and internal seiches. Due to the sloped lake bottom, surface seiches produced the high-frequency oscillations in the lake temperatures with periods of 9 min at depths from 9 to 17 m.
Erwin Rottler, Till Francke, Gerd Bürger, and Axel Bronstert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 1721–1740, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1721-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1721-2020, 2020
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In the attempt to identify and disentangle long-term impacts of changes in snow cover and precipitation along with reservoir constructions, we employ a set of analytical tools on hydro-climatic time series. We identify storage reservoirs as an important factor redistributing runoff from summer to winter. Furthermore, our results hint at more (intense) rainfall in recent decades. Detected increases in high discharge can be traced back to corresponding changes in precipitation.
Bertram Boehrer, Wolf von Tümpling, Ange Mugisha, Christophe Rogemont, and Augusta Umutoni
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4707–4716, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4707-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4707-2019, 2019
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Dissolved methane in Lake Kivu (East Africa) represents a precious energy deposit, but the high gas loads have also been perceived as a threat by the local population. Our measurements confirm the huge amount of methane and carbon dioxide present, but do not support the current theory of a significant recharge. Direct measurements of gas pressure indicate no imminent danger due to limnic eruptions. A continuous survey is mandatory to support responsible action during industrial exploitation.
André Chandesris, Kris Van Looy, Jacob S. Diamond, and Yves Souchon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4509–4525, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4509-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4509-2019, 2019
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We found that small dams in rivers alter the thermal regimes of downstream waters in two distinct ways: either only the downstream daily minimum temperatures increase, or both the downstream daily minimum and maximum temperatures increase. We further show that only two physical dam characteristics can explain this difference in temperature response: (1) residence time, and (2) surface area. These results may help managers prioritize efforts to restore the fragmented thermalscapes of rivers.
Giulia Valerio, Marco Pilotti, Maximilian Peter Lau, and Michael Hupfer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1763–1777, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1763-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1763-2019, 2019
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This paper provides experimental evidence of the occurrence of large and periodic movements induced by the wind at 95 m in depth in Lake Iseo, where a permanent chemocline is located. These movements determine vertical oscillations of the oxycline up to 20 m. Accordingly, in 3 % of the sediment area alternating redox conditions occur, which might force unsteady sediment–water fluxes. This finding has major implications for the internal matter cycle in Lake Iseo.
Georgiy Kirillin, Ilya Aslamov, Matti Leppäranta, and Elisa Lindgren
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6493–6504, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6493-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6493-2018, 2018
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We have discovered transient appearances of strong turbulent mixing beneath the ice of an Arctic lake. Such mixing events increase heating of the ice base up to an order of magnitude and can significantly accelerate ice melting. The source of mixing was identified as oscillations of the entire lake water body triggered by strong winds over the lake surface. This previously unknown mechanism of ice melt may help understand the link between the climate conditions and the seasonal ice formation.
Peter O. Zavialov, Alexander S. Izhitskiy, Georgiy B. Kirillin, Valentina M. Khan, Boris V. Konovalov, Peter N. Makkaveev, Vadim V. Pelevin, Nikolay A. Rimskiy-Korsakov, Salmor A. Alymkulov, and Kubanychbek M. Zhumaliev
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 6279–6295, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6279-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-6279-2018, 2018
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This paper reports the results of field surveys conducted in Lake Issyk-Kul in 2015–2017 and compares the present-day data with the available historical records. Our data do not confirm the reports of progressive warming of the deep Issyk-Kul waters as suggested in some previous publications. However, they do indicate a positive trend of salinity in the lake’s interior over the last 3 decades. An important newly found feature is a persistent salinity maximum at depths of 70–120 m.
Xin Luo, Xingxing Kuang, Jiu Jimmy Jiao, Sihai Liang, Rong Mao, Xiaolang Zhang, and Hailong Li
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5579–5598, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5579-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5579-2018, 2018
David Eschbach, Laurent Schmitt, Gwenaël Imfeld, Jan-Hendrik May, Sylvain Payraudeau, Frank Preusser, Mareike Trauerstein, and Grzegorz Skupinski
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 2717–2737, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2717-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2717-2018, 2018
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In this study we show the relevance of an interdisciplinary study for improving restoration within the framework of a European LIFE+ project on the French side of the Upper Rhine (Rohrschollen Island). Our results underscore the advantage of combining functional restoration with detailed knowledge of past trajectories in complex hydrosystems. We anticipate our approach will expand the toolbox of decision-makers and help orientate functional restoration actions in the future.
Eddie W. Banks, Margaret A. Shanafield, Saskia Noorduijn, James McCallum, Jörg Lewandowski, and Okke Batelaan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1917–1929, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1917-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1917-2018, 2018
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This study used a portable 56-sensor, 3-D temperature array with three heat pulse sources to measure the flow direction and magnitude below the water–sediment interface. Breakthrough curves from each of the sensors were analyzed using a heat transport equation. The use of short-duration heat pulses provided a rapid, accurate assessment technique for determining dynamic and multi-directional flow patterns in the hyporheic zone and is a basis for improved understanding of biogeochemical processes.
Nicholas Voichick, David J. Topping, and Ronald E. Griffiths
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1767–1773, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1767-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1767-2018, 2018
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This paper describes instances in the Grand Canyon study area and a laboratory experiment in which very high suspended-sediment concentrations result in incorrectly low turbidity recorded with a commonly used field instrument. If associated with the monitoring of a construction or dredging project, false low turbidity could result in regulators being unaware of environmental damage caused by the actually much higher turbidity.
Silvia Bersan, André R. Koelewijn, and Paolo Simonini
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1491–1508, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1491-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1491-2018, 2018
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Backward erosion piping is the cause of a significant percentage of failures and incidents involving dams and river embankments. In the past 20 years fibre-optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) has proved to be effective for the detection of leakages and internal erosion in dams. This work investigates the effectiveness of DTS for monitoring backward erosion piping in river embankments. Data from a large-scale piping test performed on an instrumented dike are presented and discussed.
Thaine H. Assumpção, Ioana Popescu, Andreja Jonoski, and Dimitri P. Solomatine
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1473–1489, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1473-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1473-2018, 2018
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Citizens can contribute to science by providing data, analysing them and as such contributing to decision-making processes. For example, citizens have collected water levels from gauges, which are important when simulating/forecasting floods, where data are usually scarce. This study reviewed such contributions and concluded that integration of citizen data may not be easy due to their spatio-temporal characteristics but that citizen data still proved valuable and can be used in flood modelling.
Jutta Metzger, Manuela Nied, Ulrich Corsmeier, Jörg Kleffmann, and Christoph Kottmeier
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1135–1155, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1135-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1135-2018, 2018
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This paper is motivated by the need for more precise evaporation rates from the Dead Sea (DS) and methods to estimate and forecast evaporation. A new approach to measure lake evaporation with a station located at the shoreline, also transferable to other lakes, is introduced. The first directly measured DS evaporation rates are presented as well as applicable methods for evaporation calculation. These results enable us to further close the DS water budget and to facilitate the water management.
Pauline Leduc, Peter Ashmore, and Darren Sjogren
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-1-2018, 2018
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We show the utility of ground-based time-lapse cameras for automated monitoring of stream stage and flow characteristics. High-frequency flow stage, water surface width and other information on the state of flow can be acquired for extended time periods with simple local calibration using a low-cost time-lapse camera and a few simple field measurements for calibration and for automated image selection and sorting. The approach is a useful substitute or complement to the conventional stage data.
Christina Tecklenburg and Theresa Blume
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 5043–5063, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5043-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-5043-2017, 2017
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We characterized groundwater–lake exchange patterns and identified their controls based on extensive field measurements. Our measurement design bridges the gap between the detailed local characterisation and low resolution regional investigations. Results indicated strong spatial variability in groundwater inflow rates: large scale inflow patterns correlated with topography and the groundwater flow field and small scale patterns correlated with grainsize distributions of the lake sediment.
H. J. Ilja van Meerveld, Marc J. P. Vis, and Jan Seibert
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 4895–4905, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4895-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4895-2017, 2017
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We tested the usefulness of stream level class data for hydrological model calibration. Only two stream level classes, e.g. above or below a rock in the stream, were already informative, particularly when the boundary was chosen at a high stream level. There was hardly any improvement in model performance when using more than five stream level classes. These results suggest that model based streamflow time series can be obtained from citizen science based water level class data.
Hidayat Hidayat, Adriaan J. Teuling, Bart Vermeulen, Muh Taufik, Karl Kastner, Tjitske J. Geertsema, Dinja C. C. Bol, Dirk H. Hoekman, Gadis Sri Haryani, Henny A. J. Van Lanen, Robert M. Delinom, Roel Dijksma, Gusti Z. Anshari, Nining S. Ningsih, Remko Uijlenhoet, and Antonius J. F. Hoitink
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 2579–2594, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2579-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-2579-2017, 2017
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Hydrological prediction is crucial but in tropical lowland it is difficult, considering data scarcity and river system complexity. This study offers a view of the hydrology of two tropical lowlands in Indonesia. Both lowlands exhibit the important role of upstream wetlands in regulating the flow downstream. We expect that this work facilitates a better prediction of fire-prone conditions in these regions.
Kyutae Lee, Ali R. Firoozfar, and Marian Muste
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1863–1874, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1863-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1863-2017, 2017
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Accurate estimation of stream/river flows is important in many aspects, including public safety during floods, effective uses of water resources for hydropower generation and irrigation, and environments. In this paper, we investigated a feasibility of the continuous slope area (CSA) method which measures dynamic changes in instantaneous water surface elevations, and the results showed promising capabilities of the suggested method for the accurate estimation of flows in natural streams/rivers.
Raphael Schneider, Peter Nygaard Godiksen, Heidi Villadsen, Henrik Madsen, and Peter Bauer-Gottwein
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 751–764, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-751-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-751-2017, 2017
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We use water level observations from the CryoSat-2 satellite in combination with a river model of the Brahmaputra River, extracting satellite data over a dynamic river mask derived from Landsat imagery. The novelty of this work is the use of the CryoSat-2 water level observations, collected using a complex spatio-temporal sampling scheme, to calibrate a hydrodynamic river model. The resulting model accurately reproduces water levels, without precise knowledge of river bathymetry.
Matthew T. Perks, Andrew J. Russell, and Andrew R. G. Large
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4005–4015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4005-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4005-2016, 2016
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Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the potential to capture information about the earth’s surface in dangerous and previously inaccessible locations. Here we present a method whereby image acquisition and subsequent analysis have enabled the highly dynamic and oft-immeasurable hydraulic phenomenon present during high-energy flash floods to be quantified at previously unattainable spatial and temporal resolutions.
Ian Cartwright and Harald Hofmann
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3581–3600, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3581-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-3581-2016, 2016
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This paper uses the natural geochemical tracer Rn together with streamflow measurements to differentiate between actual groundwater inflows and water that exits the river, flows through the near-river sediments, and subsequently re-enters the river downstream (parafluvial flow). Distinguishing between these two components is important to understanding the water balance in gaining streams and in managing and protecting surface water resources.
Z. D. Wen, K. S. Song, Y. Zhao, J. Du, and J. H. Ma
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 787–801, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-787-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-787-2016, 2016
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The study indicated that CDOM in rivers had higher aromaticity, molecular weight, and vascular plant contribution than in terminal lakes in the Hulun Buir plateau, Northeast China. The autochthonous sources of CDOM in plateau waters were higher than in other freshwater rivers reported in the literature. Study of the optical–physicochemical correlations is helpful in the evaluation of the potential influence of water quality factors on non-water light absorption in plateau water environments.
C. Schwatke, D. Dettmering, W. Bosch, and F. Seitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 4345–4364, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4345-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4345-2015, 2015
J. Halder, S. Terzer, L. I. Wassenaar, L. J. Araguás-Araguás, and P. K. Aggarwal
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3419–3431, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3419-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3419-2015, 2015
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We introduce a new online global database of riverine water stable isotopes (Global Network of Isotopes in Rivers) and evaluate its longer-term data holdings. A regionalized, cluster-based precipitation isotope model was used to compare measured to predicted isotope compositions of riverine catchments. The study demonstrated that the seasonal isotopic composition and variation of river water can be predicted, which will improve the application of water stable isotopes in rivers.
L. Schulte, J. C. Peña, F. Carvalho, T. Schmidt, R. Julià, J. Llorca, and H. Veit
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 3047–3072, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3047-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-3047-2015, 2015
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A 2600-year long composite palaeoflood record is reconstructed from high-resolution delta plain sediments of the Hasli-Aare floodplain on the northern slope of the Swiss Alps. Natural proxies compiled from sedimentary, geochemical and geomorphological data were calibrated by textual and factual sources and instrumental data. Geomorphological, historical and instrumental data provide evidence for flood damage intensities and discharge estimations of severe and catastrophic historical floods.
C. J. Gleason, L. C. Smith, D. C. Finnegan, A. L. LeWinter, L. H Pitcher, and V. W. Chu
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2963–2969, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2963-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2963-2015, 2015
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Here, we give a semi-automated processing workflow to extract hydraulic parameters from over 10,000 time-lapse images of the remote Isortoq River in Greenland. This workflow allows efficient and accurate (mean accuracy 79.6%) classification of images following an automated similarity filtering process. We also give an effective width hydrograph (a proxy for discharge) for the Isortoq using this workflow, showing the potential of this workflow for enhancing understanding of remote rivers.
I. Kogelbauer and W. Loiskandl
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1427–1438, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1427-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1427-2015, 2015
M. Schirmer, J. Luster, N. Linde, P. Perona, E. A. D. Mitchell, D. A. Barry, J. Hollender, O. A. Cirpka, P. Schneider, T. Vogt, D. Radny, and E. Durisch-Kaiser
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 2449–2462, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2449-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2449-2014, 2014
A. Parvathi, X. Zhong, A. S. Pradeep Ram, and S. Jacquet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 1073–1087, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1073-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-1073-2014, 2014
A. Zlinszky and G. Timár
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4589–4606, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4589-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4589-2013, 2013
B. Fournier, C. Guenat, G. Bullinger-Weber, and E. A. D. Mitchell
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 4031–4042, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4031-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4031-2013, 2013
Y.-C. Chen
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1951–1962, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1951-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1951-2013, 2013
A. T. Rezende Filho, S. Furian, R. L. Victoria, C. Mascré, V. Valles, and L. Barbiero
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 2723–2737, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2723-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-2723-2012, 2012
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Executive editor
The Aral Sea represents both an example of large-scale environmental degradation caused by human activity and a message of hope through its partial restoration. This follow-up study emphasizes that while the system appears healthy at present, it lacks resilience and small perturbations could significantly alter the entire ecosystem. The topic of the paper is of broad interest and the results of the analysis are also important for the management of the region.
The Aral Sea represents both an example of large-scale environmental degradation caused by human...
Short summary
The Aral Sea is both an example of large-scale environmental degradation caused by human activity and a message of hope through its partial restoration. Our study shows that the restored part of the Aral Sea is now healthy in terms of vertical mixing and oxygenation. However, small perturbations of water level or transparency could significantly alter the entire ecosystem. The results contribute to understanding the consequences of large-scale lake management worldwide.
The Aral Sea is both an example of large-scale environmental degradation caused by human...
