Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Geology (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
Advisor 1
John S. Gierke
Committee Member 1
Martin T. Auer
Committee Member 2
Colleen B. Mouw
Abstract
Modeling lake processes and dynamics improves understanding of the system and supports predictions of the response of the lake to perturbations, such as climate change. LAKE2K, a 3-layer surface water quality model, uses a mass balance approach to simulate the physical and biogeochemical cycles in Lake Superior. The model is successfully calibrated with data from offshore Lake Superior in 2011, a year with average meteorological conditions. The thermal regime, phytoplankton populations, and phosphorus cycle of Lake Superior are modeled, resulting in a representation of seasonal trends in this dimictic system. The calibrated model is confirmed with an application for Lake Superior during 2012, a climatic anomaly. Recommendations for improvement include expanding the model to an increased multi-layered version and partitioning the particulate phosphorus variable. The model serves as a test bed to simulate temporal variations in Lake Superior and predict its response to perturbations.
Recommended Citation
Mccarthy, Sheelagh M., "MODELING THE PHYSICAL AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL PROCESSES IN LAKE SUPERIOR USING LAKE2K", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2016.