The thermal structure of a shallow lake in early winter

The thermal structure of a shallow lake in the first month of its freeze up is shown to vary widely from year to year. The rate of temperature increase at different horizons of the water mass in early winter is evaluated, and warming of shallow and deep-water areas in the lake are shown to be uneven. The distribution of near-bed temperature as a function of water depth in the first weeks of freeze up features wide variations, though this relationship becomes more regular over time. Estimates of the effective thermal diffusivity are given for different seasons. The main periods in the variations in the heat content of water column in early winter are estimated.