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Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...

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smaller volume of water. The warmer <strong>and</strong> wetter climate bringing about higher<br />

water level in Lake Võrtsjärv would decrease <strong>the</strong> risk of fish-kills in <strong>the</strong> lake<br />

(Figure VI.A.13).<br />

Earlier ice-out<br />

Longer vegetation<br />

period<br />

Lower<br />

phytoplankton<br />

biomass & less<br />

N 2 fixing<br />

cyanobacteria<br />

Higher NAO<br />

Warmer <strong>and</strong> wetter<br />

nor<strong>the</strong>rn hemisphere<br />

Higher water level<br />

Thicker mixed<br />

layer<br />

Poorer light<br />

climate<br />

Lower<br />

shear<br />

stress<br />

Weaker<br />

resuspension<br />

Lower P<br />

Lower<br />

denitrific<br />

ation<br />

Higher N<br />

Figure VI.A.13. Consequences of global warming on phytoplankton <strong>and</strong> fish-kills in<br />

Lake Võrtsjärv.<br />

Conclusion<br />

In non-stratified shallow lakes <strong>the</strong> changes of <strong>the</strong> lake depth affect <strong>the</strong> average<br />

illumination of <strong>the</strong> mixed water column, resuspension intensity, nutrient release from<br />

sediments, <strong>and</strong> denitrification rate. These factors are important as <strong>the</strong>y control <strong>the</strong><br />

growth <strong>and</strong> composition of phytoplankton that is <strong>the</strong> first link of <strong>the</strong> pelagic food web.<br />

Cold winters often characterised by low water level have caused several winter fishkills<br />

in <strong>the</strong> lake. In warmer <strong>and</strong> wetter climate <strong>the</strong> probability of both <strong>the</strong> summer<br />

blue-green blooms <strong>and</strong> winter fish-kills are supposed to decrease in L. Võrtsjärv.<br />

Acknowledgements<br />

Funding for this study was provided by Estonian Ministry of Education (project<br />

0362480s03), by Estonian Science Foundation (grants 5425 <strong>and</strong> 5738), <strong>and</strong> by <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>European</strong> Union project CLIME (contract EVK1-CT-2002-00121). We used data<br />

obtained in frames of <strong>the</strong> State Monitoring Program of <strong>the</strong> Estonian Ministry of<br />

Environment.<br />

165<br />

Earlier ice-out<br />

Shorter period for<br />

O 2 decrease<br />

Smaller risk of<br />

winter fish kill<br />

Higher NAO<br />

Warmer <strong>and</strong> wetter<br />

nor<strong>the</strong>rn hemisphere<br />

Higher water level<br />

Bigger initial<br />

O 2 pool<br />

Algal O 2<br />

production<br />

More thaw periods<br />

Less snow on<br />

ice<br />

O 2 inflow with<br />

meltwater

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