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Title: Paleoclimatic significance of lake level fluctuations in the Lahontan Basin. [Pyramid Lake, Nevada]

Abstract

An energy flux balance model has been developed which treats evaporation as a function of air temperature, surface water temperature, precipitable water aloft, the amount, height, and type of sky cover, and the optical air mass. The model has been used to estimate the mean historical evaporation rate for Pyramid Lake, Nevada, using as input climatic data from the Reno area averaged over the period 1950 to 1975. Estimated and measured values of the mean annual evaporation rate were found to be in good agreement. The model was used to simulate changes in the level, the surface area and the volume of paleo Lake Lahontan. In particular, possible climatic states responsible for past high stands (1270 and 1330 m) were investigated. A conservative range of discharge values was used in the calculations. Results of the simulations indicate the fundamental importance of sky cover in the creation and destruction of large lake systems.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
OSTI Identifier:
5073253
Report Number(s):
LBL-11265
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; LAKES; ENERGY BALANCE; NEVADA; AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS; CLIMATES; EVAPORATION; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; PALEONTOLOGY; SURFACE AREA; THEORETICAL DATA; VOLUME; DATA; INFORMATION; NORTH AMERICA; NUMERICAL DATA; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; SURFACE PROPERTIES; SURFACE WATERS; USA; WESTERN REGION; 520100* - Environment, Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Benson, L.V. Paleoclimatic significance of lake level fluctuations in the Lahontan Basin. [Pyramid Lake, Nevada]. United States: N. p., 1980. Web. doi:10.2172/5073253.
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Benson, L.V. Paleoclimatic significance of lake level fluctuations in the Lahontan Basin. [Pyramid Lake, Nevada]. United States. doi:10.2172/5073253.
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Benson, L.V. Fri . "Paleoclimatic significance of lake level fluctuations in the Lahontan Basin. [Pyramid Lake, Nevada]". United States. doi:10.2172/5073253. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5073253.
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@article{osti_5073253,
title = {Paleoclimatic significance of lake level fluctuations in the Lahontan Basin. [Pyramid Lake, Nevada]},
author = {Benson, L.V.},
abstractNote = {An energy flux balance model has been developed which treats evaporation as a function of air temperature, surface water temperature, precipitable water aloft, the amount, height, and type of sky cover, and the optical air mass. The model has been used to estimate the mean historical evaporation rate for Pyramid Lake, Nevada, using as input climatic data from the Reno area averaged over the period 1950 to 1975. Estimated and measured values of the mean annual evaporation rate were found to be in good agreement. The model was used to simulate changes in the level, the surface area and the volume of paleo Lake Lahontan. In particular, possible climatic states responsible for past high stands (1270 and 1330 m) were investigated. A conservative range of discharge values was used in the calculations. Results of the simulations indicate the fundamental importance of sky cover in the creation and destruction of large lake systems.},
doi = {10.2172/5073253},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980},
month = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/5073253
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