Re: [Paddlewise] Taking Water Temps

From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2002 11:55:20 -0400
From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>

> Currently, I've got a lanyard attached to the thermometer, and I just drop it 
> overboard and drag it along for about 10 minutes.  When I drag it, it's only 
> about an inch underwater.  It's got holes in the top and bottom,  so it gets 
> water flowing through it as it's dragged along.

I've never done anything like this, but I will mention that moving the thermometer
will result in slightly different temperatures than keeping it still - think of 
wind chill.

As well, the water temperatures can change dramatically with depth.  The top layers
can be significantly warmer due to sunlight absorption, rainfall etc, and can be 
warmed or cooled by wind.  If you get more than a few inches down, the temp can
drop a lot - however, it may vary more slowly over time.  Therefore, measuring 
the temperature at the same depth is important if you want a realistic comparison 
from day to day.  Measuring the temp profile with depth can be interesting - 
attaching the thermometer to a knotted line and measuring at each knot each time 
will show how temps change with depth over time.  If you're on a boreal lake, you 
might even catch the seasonal turnover (I forget what that's called) if you 
measure year round.

Mike

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Received on Fri Jul 05 2002 - 08:55:13 PDT

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