Giant ice rings on lakes Baikal and Hovsgol: Inventory, associated water structure and potential formation mechanism

Abstract

Observations of giant ice rings on Lake Baikal (Russia) have recently sparked scientific and public interest. However, there is still no clear consensus on their origins. Here, we provide an inventory of the ice rings based on satellite imagery and photography for 1974-2014. We have identified 45 rings on Lake Baikal (compared with 13 previously known) and also for the first time four rings for the neighbouring Lake Hovsgol (Mongolia). The results of our hydrographic surveys beneath the ice rings in Lake Baikal in 2012-2014 and in Lake Hovsgol in 2015 show the presence of warm double-convex lens-like eddies before and during manifestation of ice rings. We suggest that these eddies are the driving factor for the formation of ice rings in these lakes. We reassess the existing hypotheses of ice ring formation and discuss the potential mechanisms of eddy formation.

Giant ice rings on lakes and field observations of lens‐like eddies in the Middle Baikal (2016–2017)

“…No ice rings have been observed in 2017 for Lake Baikal and no new ice rings for Lake Hovsgol. However, we have also discovered ice rings in a new water body—Lake Teletskoye (Kouraev et al , c , d ; Leech ).…”

“…Our hydrographic surveys beneath the ice rings in Lake Baikal in 2012–2014 and in Lake Hovsgol in 2015 have shown the presence of warm lens‐like (double‐convex form) eddies before and during the manifestation of ice rings (Kouraev et al ). We have shown that giant ice rings are a surface manifestation of these intrathermocline lens‐like eddies.…”

Winter Limnology as a New Frontier

“…For example, a review on the under‐ice microbiome by Bertilsson et al () has been cited 25 times according to Google Scholar. Other recent examples include research on ice phenology (Arp et al ; Van Cleave et al ; Beyene and Jain 2015), under‐ice physical limnology (Forrest and Jain ; Rizk et al ; Salonen et al ; Titze and Austin 2014; Bruesewitz et al ; Steel et al ; Kouraev et al ), and under‐ice primary production (Hawes et al ; Katz and Austin ). In addition, there has been a clear surge of research on biogenic gas production and carbon cycling under ice (e.g., Ducharme‐Riel et al ; Denfeld et al 2016), likely built upon the work of Striegl et al () on potential gas emissions measured during ice cover, Karlsson et al (2008) on under‐ice respiration, and Cole et al () on lakes within the global carbon cycle, among others.…”

Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin Volume 25 Number 4 November 2016 97–138

“…For example, a review on the under-ice microbiome by Bertilsson et al (2013) has been cited 25 times according to Google Scholar. Other recent examples include research on ice phenology (Arp et al 2013;Van Cleave et al 2014;Beyene and Jain 2015), under-ice physical limnology (Forrest and Jain 2013;Rizk et al 2014;Salonen et al 2014;Titze and Austin 2014;Bruesewitz et al 2015;Steel et al 2015;Kouraev et al 2016), and under-ice primary production (Hawes et al 2014;Katz and Austin 2015). In addition, there has been a clear surge of research on biogenic gas production and carbon cycling under ice (e.g., Ducharme-Riel et al 2015;Denfeld et al 2016), likely built upon the work of Striegl et al (2001) on potential gas emissions measured during ice cover, Karlsson et al (2008) on under-ice respiration, and Cole et al (2007) on lakes within the global carbon cycle, among others.…”