Basic hydrology, limnology, and climatology of the El’gygytgyn Crater region

Matt Nolan • University of Alaska FairbanksJulie Brigham-Grette • UMass Amherst

With support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, Kristin Scott Nolan,and the Lake El’gytygyn international science team

Walrus Snout PointSnout Bay

Buckle Point

The Bears Back

Outlet

1998 Core

N

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaDigital Elevation Model

We created a digital elevation model of the region which can be used in a variety of terrestrial studies. The crater is roughly 18 km in diameter with a

watershed area of 293 km2 and lake area of 110 km2.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaDigital Elevation Model

Roughly 50 streams enter the lake and basic physical statistics were compiled on them using this DEM. This local stream numbering system should be adopted by researchers here to facilitate collaborations and minimize confusion. Coordinates exist for all outlets.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaImagery

We purchased Ikonos imagery of the crater region in 2001. This imagery was used to make a variety of 3D visualizations and is useful for a variety of terrestrial studies.

Water tracks

Submarine delta formation

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaBathymetry

Using bathymetry from Russian sources (which seems quite accurate), we calculated lake volume and hypsometries. The lake contains roughly 14 km3 of water.

Though 175 meters seems deep, it is actually shallow compared to its 12 km width.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaWeather

A weather station was established in July 2000, and is presumably still running (if it hasn’t been shot again).

This station records air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, rainfall, snow pack, solar radiation balance, and soil moisture.

August 31 September 1

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaWeather

Enough said about how quickly the weather can change?

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaWeather

Locally measured wind directions indicate a dominant trend. We hypothesize that this trend leads to water currents which work in concert with the stream delta

formation on the western shore to create the unique shape of the lake.

Prograding stream sediments

Bedrock

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaWeather

Locally measured wind directions indicate a dominant trend. We hypothesize that this trend leads to water currents which work in concert with the stream delta

formation on the western shore to create the unique shape of the lake. That is, the center of the crater is not directly beneath the center of the lake.

Prograding stream sediments

Bedrock

Crater rim and center

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaLake Ice Dynamics and Water Mixing

Thermistor strings located in the deepest part of the lake indicate a textbook pattern of temperature stratification in winter and complete mixing in summer.

We did not detect any thermocline in summer, likely due to constant winds stirring up the water in this wide, thin lake.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaWeather

Locally measured air temperature compares quite well with the NCEP global reanalysis model output for this area, indicating that the NCEP model (running from 1948 to present) can be used as a reliable proxy for real measurements when needed.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaWeather

Given this good correlation, the NCEP data can also be used to help understand the dominant storm tracks and climate trends here, which is something I plan to do in the

near future, using tools like Hysplit and self-organized SLP maps as seen here.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaWeather

The NCEP reanalysis (1948-2002) is used to create give a sense of typical air temperature conditions throughout the year. March and April will no doubt be the

most comfortable and productive times for winter drilling.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaWeather

The NCEP reanalysis indicates that the region is currently undergoing a warming trend. This warming trend is being driven by winters with fewer extreme low temperatures,

which is good for winter drilling. It’s still plenty cold enough to make thick ice though.

E. 08 Nov 99 F. 25 Nov 99 G. 02 Dec 99 H. 26 Dec 99

A. 17 Sep 99 B. 26 Aug 99 C. 22 Oct 99 D. 01 Nov 99

I. 12 Jan 00 J. 05 Feb 00 K. 01 Nov 99 L. 05 Feb 00

N. 19 Mar 01 O. 19 Mar 01 P. 21 Mar 01M. 11 Nov 00 N. 11 Nov 00

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaLake Ice Dynamics and Water Mixing

We used space-borne SAR to track lake ice dynamics, including freeze-up, snowmelt, and breakup. Here, an interesting pattern of lake ice bubbles is seen developing.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaLake Ice Dynamics and Water Mixing

These bubbles (the bright areas) are likely caused by the respiration and decomposition of living things. Given that the water is less than 3C, it is likely that warm dense water

from the shallow shelves sinks to the deepest part of the lake, even in winter, suggesting the deepest area may be biogeochemically different than its surroundings.

A. 17 May 99 B. 18 May 99

C. 8 May 00 D.11 May 00

G. 18 May 00 H. 19 May 00

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaLake Ice Dynamics and Water Mixing

We can determine the onset of snowmelt by the disappearance of the bullseye pattern, because SAR cannot penetrate wet snow.

E. 26 Apr 99

F. 17 May 00

I. 16 June 00: Landsat 7

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaLake Ice Dynamics and Water Mixing

The northern edge of the lake is usually blown free of snow, piling it up deeper to the south (as much as 1.5 meters). Ice melt begins at the edges of the lake, where the

shelves are present and surface streams pile up warm water.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaLake Ice Dynamics and Water Mixing

D. 05 July 00C. 11 July 99A. 08 July 99

Lake ice breakup begins with moat formation along the margins. This frees the ice to move with the wind, where it begins getting hung up with the deltas at streams 12-14 (Snout Point and Buckle Point). Once these leads form, large pans are free to rotate

and crush, leading to rapid distintigration of the candle ice.

Table 1. Important dates of lake ice dynamics derived from SAR. 

Winter 

Onset of Lake Ice Freezing

Onset of Lake Ice

Snowmelt

Onset of Lake Ice Moat

Formation

Completion of Lake Ice Melt

1997-1998 No Data < 8 July < 8 July 8 July – 9 Aug

1998-1999 > 6 Oct17 May – 18 May

24 June – 4 July28 July – 13 Aug

1999-200016 Oct – 19 Oct

8 May – 11 May

23 June – 2 July16 July – 19 July

2000-200118 Oct – 20 Oct

14 May - 17 May

20 June – 23 June

13 July – 17 July

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaLake Ice Dynamics and Water Mixing

I plan to update this chart and combine it with further modeling as part of new work.

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Ice

and

Sn

ow T

hick

ness

(cm

)

9/1/1999 11/1/1999 1/1/2000 3/1/2000 5/1/2000 7/1/2000 9/1/2000Date

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Te

mpe

rature (C

)

Modeled Ice Thickness

NCEP Air Temperature

Modeled Snow Thickness

Measured Lake Ice Coverage

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaLake Ice Dynamics and Water Mixing

We can model lake ice breakup pretty well. As part of new work, I hope to determine the range of condition necessary to maintain a permanent ice cover, as well as model ice

sublimation, to determine the conditions necessary for lake levels to drop substantially.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaOutreach

We have a number of 3D visualizations of the lake online. These give a good sense of the what the crater region is like. You can also find some 360° panoramas there.

Physical Overview of Lake El’gygytgyn AreaOutreach

As part of future work, I plan to create several hundred high resolution spherical panoramas of the crater, in different seasons. I’m happy to train others to do this too.

Here is a demo of a similar project I am doing in north-eastern Alaska.