Do lakes affect temperature?

During the summer the lake absorbs energy, but the land reradiates energy to the atmosphere. Therefore, air over land is warmer than that over the water. In the winter the energy absorbed by the lake water is gradually released to the atmosphere, making the air over the water warmer than that over the land.



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It's all part of what makes weather, the unequal heating of the Earth's surface. That is why over the next couple of months you will hear us often say, “cooler by the lake.” Then again, as boaters and people who enjoy our beautiful waters know, it is always cooler by the lake.

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Rain may have a cooling effect on the lake surface by lowering the near-surface air temperature, by the direct rain heat flux into the lake, by mixing the lake surface layer through the flux of kinetic energy and by convective mixing of the lake surface layer.

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Lakes are highly valued for their recreational, aesthetic, scenic, and water-supply qualities, and the water they contain is one of the most treasured of our natural resources. Lakes constitute important habitats and food resources for a diverse array of fish, aquatic life, and wildlife.

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Lake temperatures are largely driven by interactions with the atmosphere, so colder air temperatures lead to colder lake temperatures, according to the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).

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During the early morning hours, the land and the water start out at roughly the same temperature. On a calm morning, a given pressure surface will be at the same height above both the land and water. A few hours later, the sun's energy begins to warm the land more rapidly than the water.

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During rainy seasons, oxygen concentrations tend to rise in most surface waters because rain saturates with oxygen as it falls. More sunlight and warmer temperatures also increase plant growth and animal activity, which may increase or decrease DO concentrations and increase diurnal fluctuation.

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We call it the 48-hour rule, and it goes like this: In order to protect your health against recreational water illnesses, avoid contact with the water for at least 48-hours after a significant rain event. Think that sounds harsh? Some places suggest waiting up to 72 hours.

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