Coupled lakes model for estimating the long-term response of the Great Lakes to time-dependent loadings of particle-associated contaminants. Technical Memo

The Coupled Lakes Model is a mathematical formalism and associated computer program for estimating the response of each of the Great Lakes to time-dependent loadings of tracers and contaminants. The model characterizes inputs arising from atmospheric delivery directly to the lakes and indirectly as losses from the drainage basins. The model treats the lakes as though instantaneously mixed and assumes equilibrium partitioning of constituents between water and suspended solids. Included in the formalism are the effects of particle settling, resuspension, mixed layer integration, radioactive decay and other first-order biogeochemical losses. Cs-137, and Pu-239/240, in combination with measured concentrations in water and in resuspended materials, provide an excellent preliminary calibration of the model