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Updated: May 28, 2026

The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations
Published on: August 3, 2016
Hydrodynamic drivers of circulation and exchange dynamics in large interconnected Lake Michigan-Huron system:
Fatemeh Rashid1, Aaron T Fisk1, Ali Saber2
1School of the Environment, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Large, interconnected lake systems exhibit complex hydrodynamics driven by atmospheric forcing, basin morphology, and inter-lake exchange flows. This complexity is particularly evident in the Lake Michigan-Huron system, where Lakes Michigan and Huron function as a single hydraulically connected basin linked through the Straits of Mackinac. This study investigates the lakes' dynamics, including seasonal thermal structure, stratification stability, vertical mixing intensity, inter-lake exchange dynamics, and circulation patterns, using a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model rigorously validated against observational data. Results indicated a predominantly dimictic thermal regime, with occasional periods of inverse stratification during late winter (February-March), particularly in Lake Huron. Lake Michigan sustains stronger summer stratification and higher epilimnetic temperatures than Lake Huron. Exchange-flow analysis revealed highly oscillatory daily motion through the straits with a mean bidirectional flow magnitude of 13,449 m3 s-1, while monthly net transport remained consistently eastward from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron with a mean flow rate of 2060 m3 s-1. Power spectral density analysis identified dominant Helmholtz oscillations at a 2.83-day period, with winter oscillatory energy exceeding summer values by nearly an order of magnitude. Seasonal transition from barotropic winter circulation to baroclinic summer flow fundamentally alters inter-lake exchange structure at the straits, shifting from depth-uniform in winter to two-layer bidirectional transport in summer. These findings demonstrate that, despite their hydraulic continuity, the two lakes function as thermally and dynamically distinct systems. The process-level insights could provide a robust foundation for improved understanding of contaminant transport, climate variability assessment, and ecosystem management in large, interconnected lake systems.
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