FLake-Global: Online lake model with worldwide coverage

An online lake-modeling tool FLake-Global allows virtually instantaneous estimation of the seasonal cycle of temperature and mixing conditions in any shallow freshwater lake around the world. The tool is built on the basis of the lake model FLake (www.lakemodel.net) and a year- long near-surface meteorological data from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Project (http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/reanalysis). FLake-Global gives estimates of the surface and bottom water temperatures, mean temperature of the water column, surface mixed layer depth, and ice cover duration and thickness, using geographical coordinates, mean depth to the bottom and water transparency of the lake in question, and the NCEP atmospheric forcing as input. The tool is suitable for a wide spectrum of applications, including general limnology, lake management and restoration, fisheries, and recreation. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.