The Warming of Lake Tahoe

Coats, Robert; Pérez-Losada, Joaquim; Schladow, Geoffrey; Richards, Robert C.; Goldman, Charles R.

doi:10.1007/s10584-005-9006-1

Cited by 196 publications

(190 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…2.3 Lake temperature and thermal structure Previous calculations of average temperature of Lake Tahoe ran from December, 1969 to October 2002 (Coats et al 2006). Using an identical methodology the record for the Lake was updated through August 2007.…”

Section: Precipitation and Snowmeltmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the average temperature of Lake Tahoe was last calculated through 2002 (Coats et al 2006), the lake's annual minimum temperature has continued to increase, reaching its highest level ever in late February-early March, 2007. The annual maximum temperature, however, has not increased over the same period.…”

Section: Changes In Lake Temperature and Thermal Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to concerns about progressive eutrophication and loss of clarity, the lake has been studied intensively since the mid- 1960s, and has been the focus of major efforts to halt the trends in clarity and trophic status. Previous work on the effects of climate change on the lake (Coats et al 2006) has shown (1) that the lake is warming at an average rate of about 0.015 • C year −1 ; (2) the warming trend in the lake is driven primarily by increasing air temperature, and secondarily by increased downward long-wave radiation; (3) the warming trend on monthly and annual time scales is correlated with the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) and (to a lesser extent) with El Niño-southern oscillation (ENSO); (4) the warming of the lake is modifying its thermal structure, and increasing its resistance to deep mixing. Recent work on climate change impacts in the western USA has focused attention on the shift in snowmelt timing toward earlier dates (Aguado et al 1992;Dettinger et al 2004;Cayan et al 2001;Dettinger and Cayan 1995;Johnson et al 1999;Stewart et al 2005), the shift from snow to rain (Knowles et al 2006;Regonda et al 2005), the earlier onset of spring (Cayan et al 2001); and the effect that these changes will have on water supply in California and throughout the western USA Barnett et al 2008;Mote et al 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change in the Tahoe basin: regional trends, impacts and drivers

Coats

2010

Climatic Change

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The purpose of this study was to quantify the decadal-scale time trends in air temperature, precipitation phase and intensity, spring snowmelt timing, and lake temperature in the Tahoe basin, and to relate the trends to large-scale regional climatic trends in the western USA. Temperature data for six long-term weather stations in the Tahoe region were analyzed for trends in annual and monthly means of maximum and minimum daily temperature. Precipitation data at Tahoe City were analyzed for trends in phase (rain versus snow), decadal standard deviation, and intensity of rainfall. Daily streamflow data for nine gaging stations in and around the Tahoe basin were examined for trends in snowmelt timing, by two methods, and an existing record for the temperature of Lake Tahoe was updated. The results for the Tahoe basin, which contrast somewhat with the surrounding region, indicate strong upward trends in air temperature, a shift from snow to rain, a shift in snowmelt timing to earlier dates, increased rainfall intensity, increased interannual variability, and continued increase in the temperature of Lake Tahoe. Two hypotheses are suggested that may explain why the basin could be warming faster than surrounding regions. Continued warming in the Tahoe basin has important implications for efforts to manage biodiversity and maintain clarity of the lake.

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Section: Precipitation and Snowmeltmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Changes In Lake Temperature and Thermal Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change in the Tahoe basin: regional trends, impacts and drivers

Coats

2010

Climatic Change

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“…However, due to progressive loss of clarity, at the rate of 0.22 m/year (Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) 2008), the lake has been the focus of major efforts by local, state, and federal agencies and policy-makers to halt the trend in clarity and trophic status. Moreover, records of the past 38 years show that Lake Tahoe has become both warmer and more stable (Coats et al 2006;Coats 2008). Air temperature and precipitation, and their hydrologic linkages (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of climate change on thermal properties of lakes and reservoirs, and possible implications

Sahoo

Schladow

Reuter

et al. 2010

Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess

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Meteorologic-driven processes exert large and diverse impacts on lakes' internal heating, cooling, and mixing. Thus, continued global warming and climate change will affect lakes' thermal properties, dynamics, and ecosystem. The impact of climate change on Lake Tahoe (in the states of California and Nevada in the United States) is investigated here, as a case study of climate change effects on the physical processes occurring within a lake. In the Tahoe basin, air temperature data show upward trends and streamflow trends indicate earlier snowmelt. Precipitation in the basin is shifting from snow to rain, and the frequency of intense rainfall events is increasing. In-lake water temperature records of the past 38 years show that Lake Tahoe is warming at an average rate of 0.013°C/year. The future trends of weather variables, such as air temperature, precipitation, longwave radiation, downward shortwave radiation, and wind speed are estimated from predictions of three General Circulation Models (GCMs) for the period 2001-2100. Future trends of weather variables of each GCM are found to be different to those of the other GCMs. A series of simulation years into the future (2000-2040) is established using streamflows and associated loadings, and meteorologic data sets for the period 1994-2004. Future simulation years and trends of weather variables are selected so that: (1) future simulated warming trend would be consistent with the observed warming trend (0.013°C/year); and (2) future mixing pattern frequency would closely match with the historical mixing pattern frequency. Results of 40-year simulations show that the lake continues to become warmer and more stable, and mixing is reduced. Continued warming in the Tahoe has important implications for efforts towards managing biodiversity and maintaining clarity of the lake.

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“…6−8 At the same time, climate change is altering hydrologic and water temperature regimes, which may further contribute to variability in productivity and algal community shifts. 9,10 The Clean Air Act and Amendments (CAAA) is the primary policy for improving air quality and reducing atmospheric deposition in the United States (US). The legislation targets decreases in acid deposition and the recovery of surface waters from acidification and prohibits deterioration of air quality in national parks and wilderness areas, where a large proportion of western mountain lakes occur.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

20th Century Atmospheric Deposition and Acidification Trends in Lakes of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

Heard

Sickman

Bennett³

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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We investigated multiple lines of evidence to determine if observed and paleo-reconstructed changes in acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) in Sierra Nevada lakes were the result of changes in 20th century atmospheric deposition. Spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) (indicator of anthropogenic atmospheric deposition) and biogenic silica and δ13C (productivity proxies) in lake sediments, nitrogen and sulfur emission inventories, climate variables, and long-term hydrochemistry records were compared to reconstructed ANC trends in Moat Lake. The initial decline in ANC at Moat Lake occurred between 1920 and 1930, when hydrogen ion deposition was approximately 74 eq ha–1 yr–1, and ANC recovered between 1970 and 2005. Reconstructed ANC in Moat Lake was negatively correlated with SCPs and sulfur dioxide emissions (p = 0.031 and p = 0.009). Reconstructed ANC patterns were not correlated with climate, productivity, or nitrogen oxide emissions. Late 20th century recovery of ANC at Moat Lake is supported by increasing ANC and decreasing sulfate in Emerald Lake between 1983 and 2011 (p < 0.0001). We conclude that ANC depletion at Moat and Emerald lakes was principally caused by acid deposition, and recovery in ANC after 1970 can be attributed to the United States Clean Air Act.

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The Warming of Lake Tahoe

Cited by 196 publications

References 54 publications

Climate change in the Tahoe basin: regional trends, impacts and drivers

Climate change in the Tahoe basin: regional trends, impacts and drivers

Effects of climate change on thermal properties of lakes and reservoirs, and possible implications

20th Century Atmospheric Deposition and Acidification Trends in Lakes of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

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