Winter Thermal Structure and Ice Conditions on Lake Champlain, Vermont,

During the winter of 1974-75, the thermal structure and ice conditions of Lake Champlain were studied, near Shelburne Point, Vermont. This mid-latitude, large lake was instrumented to a depth of 8.5 m with a string of highly calibrated thermistors, connected to a data logger on shore which recorded water temperatures every four hours. An ice mooring system was developed to anchor the thermistor string so that ice and water temperatures could be obtained at known levels. This temperature recording system measured vertical and horizontal variations in ice and water temperature regimes during ice formation, growth and decay. Meteorological data were measured during the winter period November 1974 through March 1975 at the site. Ice stratigraphy was determined for the ice at the site at its maximum seasonal growth for comparison with ice from St. Albans Bay at the northern end of Lake Champlain which had formed earlier. Correlations were determined between ice growth and accumulated degree days of freezing. The operation of a bubbler system installed near the measurement site around a service dock was observed.