Water quality data for lakes on the North Slope of Alaska

A regional assessment of thermokarst lakes across the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska was conducted using satellite images to detect changes in lake coverage and morphometry during the satellite era. This effort was supplemented by the use of digital aerial photographs to extend the analysis back to ~1950, and to assess temporal patterns of change. The analyses were augmented by summer field studies focused on lake evaporation, seasonal and interannual changes in fundamental lake characteristics, and collection of lake water temperature and bathymetry in three study areas. The measurement program is designed to map patterns of shoreline changes, monitor interannual variations in lake levels, and estimate energy and moisture exchange between lakes and the atmosphere. In summer 2008, lakes near Barrow were studied and instrumented. In 2009, the focus was on lakes further inland near Atqasuk. In 2010, lakes near the Arctic Coastal Plain-Arctic Foothills were studied.本研究借助卫星影像，针对阿拉斯加北极海岸平原（Arctic Coastal Plain）的热融湖塘（thermokarst lakes）开展区域评估，以探测卫星时代内湖泊覆盖范围与形态测量参数的变化。本研究辅以数字航空照片，将分析时段回溯至约1950年，以评估变化的时间演化模式。研究工作还通过夏季野外研究得到进一步完善：聚焦湖泊蒸发过程、湖泊基本特征的季节与年际变化，并在三个研究区域采集湖水温度与水深测深数据。本测量计划旨在绘制湖岸线变化格局、监测湖泊水位的年际波动，并估算湖泊与大气间的能量与水汽交换。2008年夏季，研究团队对巴罗（Barrow）附近的湖泊开展了实地研究并布设了观测仪器；2009年，研究重点转向阿特卡苏克（Atqasuk）附近的内陆纵深湖泊；2010年，研究对象为北极海岸平原-北极山麓（Arctic Coastal Plain-Arctic Foothills）附近的湖泊。