WORLDWIDE

Horizontal spatial co-ordinates; Bathymetry and Elevation; Metadata parameters

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There are approx. 8000000 natural lakes with surface area >1ha on the Earth. However, bathymetrical survey was carried out in approx. 400000-500000 morphometrically measured lakes. Much less lakes (approx. 40000-45000) have been covered by limnological studies (limnologically studied lakes). The global Database and GIS WORLDLAKE for limnologically studied natural and manmade world lakes is constructed. WORLDLAKE database compiled from more than 5,700 world literature sources published in 40-50 last years is described. Geographical, morphometric, thermal, water balance, hydrological, meteorological, climatologic, etc. (more than 100 items for each lake) field data are involved. Currently the database (130 MB, Excel files) contains information on approx. 50,000 natural and 7,900 artificial limnologically studied world lakes, 300 swamps and wetlands. Vast data available on so called castal lakes (coastal lagoons) located at the Black Sea and Azov Sea shores as well as on manmade reservoirs constructed on rivers inflowing the seas. Distributions of limnologically studied natural and manmade lakes by continents, countries and the origin of lake basement are considered. Preliminary global statistical estimates have been derived for world lakes from WORLDLAKE. discussed.

Institute of Limnology RAS
Sevastyanov st. 9
St Petersburg

196105
Russian Federation