USING RAINFALL-RUNOFF MODELING TO INTERPRET LAKE LEVEL DATA

Using water balance computations, the behavior of different kinds of l akes is discussed. Simple analytical expressions relating water level to hydrological conditions and lake bathymetry are given. The importan ce of knowing the river basin area when analyzing lake levels is stres sed. A conceptual rainfall-runoff model including lake routing is used to simulate runoff and lake levels and to compute quasi-steady state conditions and long-term transient situations. It is suggested that mo dels can be used to construct curves relating lake levels to precipita tion and lake evaporation. By comparing with paleo-lake levels, the an nual precipitation related to these levels can be found, provided info rmation is available about the seasonal distribution of the precipitat ion.