Local Climate near the Small Lake

Part 3. Land and Lake Breeze of Lake Toya, Hokkaido, in Summer

Abstract

As part of a series of observational studies, the local climate near a small lake (not exceeding 200km²) in summer was investigated. The observations of land and lake breeze were carried out on and around Lake Toya, and some features and the structures of these wind systems were noted.
1) Land and lake breeze was observed in the entire lake shore, and the mean speeds of these winds were found to be approximately 1-2m/sec at lake shore. But the transition from land breeze into lake breeze was different at each site in mode and in time.
2) The maximum depth of the land breeze was about 100m, and the lake breeze was approximately 150m. The structures of these wind circulations were considered to be slightly twisted.
3) It is found that the lake breeze set in when the air was still cooler than water surface. This unique feature is explained in relation to the topography around the lake.