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Lake Vechten: aspects of its morphometry, climate, hydrology and physico-chemical characteristics

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Abstract

The physiography of Lake Vechten (The Netherlands) is described together with morphometric data. The lake (surface area 4.7 ha; mean depth 6.0 m) consists of two basins with maximum depths of 10.5 and 11.9 m. Meteorological conditions in the region and horizontal groundwater flow play an important role in the renewal time, which is about two years. The lake has in most years a circulation period from November till April but in some years, when the ice cover is prolonged, it is stratified in winter as well. The summer stratification extending from May to the end of October is very stable, with an anaerobic hypolimnion. Eddy conductivity in the stagnant water is calculated. The water transparency is strongly influenced by the presence of algal and bacterial populations and by resuspended particulate matter. Secchi disk depth ranges from 1.8 to 4.5 rn. The 1% of the surface light reaches from 4 to 5 m depth in November and from 8 to 9.5 m depth in May. The ionic composition and nutrient status of the lake are given.

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Steenbergen, C.L.M., Verdouw, H. Lake Vechten: aspects of its morphometry, climate, hydrology and physico-chemical characteristics. Hydrobiologia 95, 11–23 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044473

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