Calculates the hydrodynamics of Lake Lagarfljót

Lake Lagarfljót in the east of Iceland has always been shrouded in mystery, not least due to tales of a mythical creature that supposedly carves its way through its waters; the Worm of Lagarfljót. The worm is not likely to be the cause of special currents that are the subject of Morgane Priet-Mahéo‘s doctoral research.

Mahéo points out that Lake Lagarfljót has been closely watched for around a decade, partly to observe the influence of the construction of the hydro-electric plant at Kárahnjúkar. Her supervisor is Ólöf Andradóttir, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who has researched the hydrodynamics of Lake Lagarfljót since 2008, and discovered that inner currents pass the lake every 3-6 days.

“Measurements in Lake Lagarfljót have shown that the inner dynamics of the lake are complex. In the study I will create a three dimensional hydrodynamic model of the lake and observe whether it works in the context of these dynamics. The model will provide new insight into the processes that characterise lakes just south of the arctic circle if it is successful, and may enable us to foresee the impact of global warming on such lakes,” says Mahéo.

Mahéo has already worked on a variety of research on the lake with specialised equipment; for example concerning temperature, turbidity and current speed. “Global warming will most likely have a large impact on the environment just south of the Arctic Circle and especially on lakes in that belt, not least due to increased surface temperature and the melting of glaciers which supply the lakes with water. Better understanding of the hydrodynamics of lakes is essential, because it contributes to the quality of the water and the ecology of the lakes; and thus can help us to comprehend the influence of global warming in the future, says Mahéo.