DYNAMICS OF LAKES, RESERVOIRS, AND COOLING PONDS

The review shows results of recent observational and theoretical studies of the water motion and the distribution of heat and material substances within a contained body of water. A lake is defined as a naturally occurring body of water, with both the inflow and the outflow regulated by the natural riverine system. On the other hand, a reservoir is a man-made impoundment that has a controlled throughflow and very often a subsurface outlet. Reservoirs have in general a larger throughflow, a considerably shorter average residence time, and usually a severely fluctuating water level. These differences induce a considerably different ordering of the important physical mechanisms.