<
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-underwater-lake-threatening-aquatic-life.html>
"Lakes are essential to ecosystems, providing freshwater, supporting
biodiversity and offering crucial habitat for fish and other aquatic species.
But a recent study published in
Nature Climate Change by my colleagues and I
shows that lakes around the world are warming, not just at the surface, but
deep below as well. Subsurface heat waves in lakes, defined as extreme periods
of high water temperature below the surface, are increasing in frequency,
duration and intensity.
These hidden extremes could have serious consequences for lake ecosystems.
Despite that, the issue remains largely unmonitored and poorly understood.
Lake heat waves are similar to those in the atmosphere or ocean. They are
prolonged periods of excessive warmth. Most research to date has focused on
surface temperatures, where climate change has already caused more frequent and
intense heat waves over recent decades.
These surface events can disrupt the chemical and physical balance of lakes,
damage food webs and, in some cases, cause mass fish die-offs.
Aquatic species respond to surface heat waves in different ways. Some benefit
if the warming expands their preferred temperature range. But many others,
particularly those already living near their thermal limits, face significant
stress.
In lakes that stratify during summer—where warm surface water sits above a
cooler bottom layer—some species seek refuge from the heat by migrating to
deeper water. But what happens when that deeper refuge is no longer cool?"
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
