Ice thickness at Green Lake 4, 1984 - ongoing, monthly

Thickness of seasonal ice cover in high alpine lakes can be influenced by local environmental change, including changes in temperature and winter precipitation. Increased winter precipitation can increase the insulating effects of snow cover on lake surfaces or increase water storage in the lake’s catchment, both of which may decrease ice thickness (Caine 2002). To assess long-term trends in seasonal ice thickness, as well as sensitivity to environmental drivers, measurements of ice thickness are taken approximately monthly throughout the winter at Green Lake 4.

高海拔湖泊的季节性冰盖厚度易受局地环境变化影响，涵盖气温与冬季降水的变化。冬季降水增多可增强湖面积雪覆盖的隔热效应，或提升湖泊流域的储水量，二者均可能导致冰盖厚度降低（Caine，2002）。为评估季节性冰盖厚度的长期变化趋势及其对环境驱动因子的敏感性，研究人员于整个冬季在格林湖4号（Green Lake 4）站点约每月开展一次冰盖厚度测量工作。