Monday

10:30 Introduction• Course outlines• Safety on ice11:30 Lunch12:30 Introductory lectures• Physical limnology (Merja)• Plankton (Kalevi)• Fish (Timo)17:00 (?) Supper

Week 1 at Konnevesi

Field work phase

Tuesday-Thursday• 2 groups at small lakes (Merja & Kalevi)• One group at Konnevesi (large lake)

- the groups are rotated on daily basis- one English group- each group has specific responsibilities of reporting (Power Point)

Friday (untill lunch)• Data handling

Small lake work

1. Two small lakes

- depth mapping

- snow, slush and ice thickness mapping

- temperature mapping

- oxygen mapping

- ice structure

- phyto- and zooplankton assemblages (vertical samples)

- bottom animal samples

Small lake work…

2. Few other small lakes

Limited number of measurements and samples according to the available time

The aim of this part is to introduce into the variability between sites

Products• Depth maps (north-south oriented)

• Lake area, volume, relative depth and hypsographic curve

• Ice, slush and snow thickness distribution maps and graphs

• Transect isotherms, and oxygen (longitudinal and orthogonal)

• Variation in ice structure

• Example vertical distributions of temperature, oxygen and oxygen saturation

• Phyto- and zooplankton plankton species composition (tables) and vertical distributions (in relation to temperature and oxygen) of selected taxa

• Bottom animals

Week 2 in Jyväskylä

Monday-Wednesday

- one group at Päijänne (part of day)

- two groups looking at phytoplankton, and zooplankton samples in the lab

- partly also preparing the results

Thursday – Friday morning

- finalising the presentations

Friday afternoon

- seminar presentations

Safety on the ice

Starting points

• Evaluate the possible risks before entering on the ice

• Think the practices how you would cope with the potential dangers e.g.

- you are not alone- you have a mobile phone with enoughbattery life- availability of emergency transportation

or access to warm place

Places of danger in winter field work: Running waters

• Danger is radically emphasized by the fact that flow can draw you under the ice

• Running waters are extremely unpredictable practically everywhere

-Situation can change rapidly – never

think that the same ice is equally thick

next time

Places of danger in winter field work: Running waters

• Basic rules:

- never work alone

- when moving on ice, one must verify the thickness of ice cover at each step

- still additional precautions are compulsory

(e.g. rope on the waist, possible availability of boat)

Places of dangerlake and pond waters

• Flow of water is the key issue

-In front of nflowing and outflowing rivers

-Narrows

-Ends of capes

-Ground water seepage areas

• Cracks in ice (unpredictable; whole winter)

Seasonality

• Towards spring danger increases

- melting begins

-less cold

-solar radiation starts to penetrate

water

- effects of flow are emphasized

- ice structure is changing

Enhancement of safety

• Ice needles (particularly useful in early winter)

• Floating suit (note!, only extends life)

• Rope (

• Rod

• Skiis

• Boat

• Ice iron

Having fallen into ice

1. Get out of water2. Try to limit cooling (it happens rapidly)

- if you are near to lab or any equivalent>> go inside as soon as possible

- if you can reach lab in reasonable time >> share dry clothes, if possible

>> inform lab for necessary actions- If you are too far from lab (or equivalent)

>> call help (or/and dry clothes, blankets, etc.)>> seek sheltered place and make fire

Having fallen into ice…

3. Return normal body temperature / have necessary treatment

- bath

- sauna

Various winter practices

Coping with coldPersonal aspects

1. Wind is the worst enemy>> Rough guidelines: if weather is calm, avoid field work at temperature below -20 oC (when windy -10 oC) or use a shelter>> Clothing should be enough tight against wind>> Also face and ears should be protected

(Note even in calm weather windcaused by driving on ice)

Coping with coldPersonal aspects…

2. Prevent getting wet

>> Good watertight rubber boots

>> Water repellent clothes

>> Adequate gloves which still allow precise handling

>> Do not get wet by swetting, too

Coping with coldPersonal aspects…

3. Keep yourself warm

>> specific insulated boots

>> enough insulated clothing for standing at one place

- preferably clothing is layered so that during physically more demanding

phases excessive heat accumulation

can be limited (sometimes the use of

zip may have similar function)

Coping with coldSampling devices etc.

1. All possible should be done ready in the laboratory before the field work>> markings (waterproof)>> systematic arrangement of bottles etc. >> prethinking of all details of work flow in the field

2. Keep all devices and bottles (particularly those with ground glass stoppers) dry before sampling

Coping with coldSampling devices etc.

3. During sampling minimize the time the devices are exposed to cold>> rapid well organised field practices >> a hole or or water filled depression in ice to keep devices when those are not needed (or sometimes warm water in insulated box)>> for critical cases a couple of liters hot water in a vacuum insulated bottle

Coping with coldSampling devices etc.

4. After sampling >> remove water (e.g. by blowing) from

any parts of devices which must not freeze or immerse the whole device in water

Coping with coldSamples

1. Irrespective temperature immerse bottles with samples in lake water taken to a cool box - in critical conditions and with glass bottles this must be made within seconds

2. With box lid tightly closed bottles can be safely stored for hours in a few liters of cold lake water

Coping with coldSamples

3. In many cases, before going back to the laboratory it is necessary to immobilize sample bottles

Basic field tools

• Ice drill

• Ice tool

• Ice saw

• Slush sieve

• Spade

• Wet proof notebook

Moving on the ice

1. Short distances from the lab or the car - walking with a pulka

2. Long distances- motor sledge with pulka- notice fuel and oil requirements- some types unsuitable on bare ice- easiest way to get fallen into ice- in cold never leave into slush for longer time

Moving on the ice3. In dangerous conditions

- hydrocopter

Additional notes

• When incubating something in lake, use iron wire to ascertain that you will not cut

the hanging rope • Mark each hole made in ice which is larger

than drill bore (e.g. with twigs of trees)

Winter limnology

• Vacant research niche with exciting challenges

BUT

• Harsh and demanding season to work

• Due to cold also more dangerous than in summer