What is Lake Baikal?
Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest and largest freshwater lake, containing up to one fifth of the world’s unfrozen freshwater reserves. Situated in south-east Siberia between Irkutsk Oblast and the Republic of Buryatia, the lake is over 25 million years old and is an important ecological habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna. It is also the home of several unique endemic species, including the freshwater seals and more than 1,700 species of water plants.
How does Lake Baikal Freeze?
Lake Baikal starts to freeze in the late autumn and is usually frozen by the end of December. The current freezing water level is much deeper than in the 19th century, when the lake start to freeze only in the shallow area. The process is also much faster nowadays due to the reduction of warming atmospheric influences. The lake can remain frozen for up to five months, with the most extreme cases being up to six or seven months.
What Role Does the Climate Play?
Climate change is one of the main factors influencing the size and depth of Lake Baikal’s frozen surface area. In recent decades, the lake has been freezing more slowly, due in part to a decrease in snow cover. According to research, the proportion of Lake Baikal’s surface area frozen in the winter has decreased by an average of 3 percent per year over the past 15 years.
The accelerated rate of global warming, mainly due to the extensive use of fossil fuels, has led to an increase in air temperatures, reducing the amount of snowfall and increasing ice thawing in Lake Baikal. In addition, increased air moisture levels, combined with the melting of permafrost, have added to the rising levels of water in the lake, further delaying its freezing.
The impact of climate change is compounded by human activities such as overfishing. Due to an excessive amount of fishing and other unregulated activities in the lake, the fish population has significantly decreased and, as a result, Lake Baikal has generally become warmer in fall and winter months.
Effects of Lake Baikal Freezing on the Region
The winter temperature and weather in the region around Lake Baikal depend heavily on the lake’s freezing and thawing process. The thawing of the lake’s ice cover is delayed by cold winds coming from the icy parts of the lake. This north-east wind has a cooling effect on the weather in the region, resulting in lower winter temperatures. This icy wind also acts as an obstruction to warm air coming from the south, thus reducing its effect on the region.
At the same time, the melting of the ice on the lake’s surface brings warm and moist air from the south that contributes to the further heating up of the region’s weather. This final warming up of the region in spring and summer usually slightly precedes the start of snow thawing in the area, allowing the countryОs inhabitants to enjoy the long and warm summer months.
Forecast for the Duration of Freezing
Weather forecasts predict that the lake’s freezing periods are likely to become even more unpredictable over time according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). If climate change continues to have a negative effect on the lake’s freezing process, it may cause a decrease in temperatures in the region and an increase in winter storms due to the now colder air from the lake.
The unpredictability of the lake’s freezing process may mean that more winter storms will be experienced in the region, putting everyone in the area at risk of flooding and other weather-related damage. In addition, the reduction of snow cover in the region due to the late winter thawing reduces the amount of insulation and snowmelt which can cause a higher risk of flooding and other weather-related damages.
Impacts on Local Wildlife
The changes in the lake’s freezing process due to climate change also threaten the unique wildlife living in and around Lake Baikal. The local endemic species, such as the freshwater seals are highly vulnerable to changes in temperature due to their aquatic lifestyle. An increase in water temperature can lead to an increased metabolic rate, causing the animals to use up their fat reserves faster and increase their risk of starvation.
In addition, the melting of the lake’s ice cover reduces the amount of food available for the animals, as well as the amount of safe breeding and hibernating sites. This can significantly reduce the chances of them surviving.
Effects of Overfishing
The fish population in Lake Baikal is also suffering due to overfishing. This has caused the fish population to decrease, leading to an increase in water temperature due to the lack of fish. This can create an adverse environment for the lake’s endemic species, as well as the local human population which relies on fishing as a source of food and income.
The decrease in fish population also reduces the amount of nutrients in the lake. This can lead to an increase in the growth of algae, which can reduce the oxygen levels in the lake, causing damage to the local species and ecosystem.
Is Lake Baikal Frozen Now?
At the moment, there is no clear answer as to whether or not Lake Baikal is frozen. As temperatures in the area continue to rise due to climate change, it is becoming harder to predict when the lake will freeze and for how long. Generally, it freezes at the end of December and stays frozen for up to five months, but there have been cases where the lake has remained frozen for up to six or seven months.
At the moment, temperatures in the area are low enough to suggest that the lake is likely to remain frozen until late spring, but it is not possible to predict with absolute certainty. The effects of climate change, as well as the depletion of the local fish population, will continue to impact the timing of the season’s freeze and thaw for the foreseeable future.
Effects of Pollution
Pollution from industrial activities, agricultural runoff, and sewage is a major issue facing the world’s largest freshwater lake. Pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals are being introduced into Lake Baikal, and can have serious impacts on the health of the lake and the species that inhabit it. If left unchecked, pollution can cause eutrophication, a process in which aquatic species are unable to survive due to oxygen depletion.
The pollutants introduced into the lake can also cause other health problems, such as increases in illnesses, respiratory issues, and cancer in the fish, mammals, and residents living near the lake. The introduction of pollution also leads to the contamination of drinking water and the spread of anoxic zones, which is an area of the lake with very low oxygen concentrations and low levels of life.
What Steps Can Be Taken to Prevent Further Damage?
To reduce the impact of climate change on the lake, it is important to reduce the amount of emissions in the atmosphere. This includes transitioning to renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power, and reducing the burning of fossil fuels. It is also important to reduce the amount of sewage and agricultural runoff that is entering the lake.
It is also essential to ensure that fishing and other activities in the lake are regulated to ensure the safety and health of the fish population. This can be achieved by introducing regulations and laws that restrict or prohibit the use of certain techniques and machinery to prevent overfishing. Additionally, measures can be taken to ensure that any construction projects near the lake are undertaken in an environmentally friendly manner.
Finally, it is important to raise public awareness of the importance of Lake Baikal, as well as its vulnerability to climate change and pollution. Education is key in ensuring that people understand the need to take action to protect the lake, and to ensure its future for generations to come.
