Soda Lake (San Luis Obispo County): Difference between revisions

Soda Lake
Soda Lake
	Soda Lake
Location	Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo County, California, US
Coordinates	35°13′52″N 119°53′18″W / 35.2312°N 119.8883°W
Type	alkali lake
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	12 km2 (4.6 sq mi)
Surface elevation	580 m (1,900 ft)

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Soda Lake is a shallow, ephemeral, alkaline endorheic lake in the Carrizo Plain in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, California. The lake is located on the southwest side of the northern Carrizo Plain, 103 km (64 mi) east of San Luis Obispo. It can be reached by Soda Lake Road, which runs northwest–southeast between State Route 166 and State Route 58. The lake is at an elevation of 580 m (1,900 ft) and covers an area of about 12 km² (4.6 sq mi).

Endorheic drainage basin

Internal drainage of the Carrizo Plain and the formation of Soda Lake began during Pliocene-Pleistocene time when tectonic deformation associated with the San Andreas Fault defeated a stream that once drained the valley. An originally fresh to brackish water lake probably persisted through much of the Pleistocene during which coastal California was wetter and cooler than now. Diminished Holocene precipitation and a higher evaporation rate led to shrinkage of the ancestral lake and associated increased salinity which set the stage for clay dune formation.

About 30% of the closed or endorheic drainage basin is to the north of the lake and 70% is south of it. The Soda Lake complex consists of two larger basins, and at least 130 smaller pans. The large L-shaped northern basin is about 10.5 km² (4.1 sq mi) in area. The remaining basins, including both those that feed the northern basin and those that have no surface outlets, comprise an area of about 4.8 km² (1.9 sq mi). Water levels in the basins rise and fall seasonally. Rainfall on the Carrizo Plain is only about 20 cm (7.9 in) in an average year but is higher on the surrounding mountains. Following exceptionally wet winters, typically El Niño years, the large northern and southern basins do not evaporate completely, although the water retreats toward the center of the basin leaving a salt crust up to 20 cm (7.9 in) thick. Most of the large and small pans are fringed by clay dunes. It is one of the largest alkali wetlands remaining in natural condition in California. It supports fairy and brine shrimp, as well as migratory and nesting birds. A boardwalk was built along the shore to prevent damage to the saltbush habitat that borders the lake.

Climate

Climate data for Soda Lake, California
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	62 (17)	62 (17)	67 (19)	71 (22)	78 (26)	87 (31)	92 (33)	93 (34)	89 (32)	79 (26)	69 (21)	61 (16)	76 (25)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	34 (1)	35 (2)	37 (3)	38 (3)	42 (6)	47 (8)	52 (11)	51 (11)	52 (11)	43 (6)	37 (3)	33 (1)	42 (6)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.03 (128)	4.92 (125)	4.09 (104)	1.45 (37)	0.60 (15)	0.09 (2.3)	0.01 (0.25)	0.00 (0.00)	0.11 (2.8)	1.12 (28)	1.80 (46)	3.83 (97)	23.05 (585.35)
Source: prism^[1]

Dunes

The largest dune bounds the eastern and southern edges of the northern basin. This dune is up to 470 m (1,540 ft) wide, 16.7 m (55 ft) high, and nearly 9.5 km (5.9 mi) in length. Part of the dune is active, receiving sediment from the mud flat exposed between the dune and the salt pan. Most of the eastern (north-south) leg of the dune, which is lower and narrower, is currently inactive. Westward retreat of the shoreline exposed the former lake flat to colonization and stabilization by salt-resistant plants.

Panoramic view of Soda Lake

Thenardite, an anhydrous sodium sulfate mineral from Soda Lake

References

^ Climate and monthly weather https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/

External links

Virtual Guidebooks - Panoramas of Soda Lake

[1] Climate and monthly weather https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox lake
+{{Infobox body of water
- | lake_name = Soda Lake
+| name = Soda Lake
- | image_lake = Carrizo sodalake.jpg
+| image = Carrizo sodalake.jpg
- | caption_lake =
+| caption =
- | image_bathymetry =
+| image_bathymetry =
- | caption_bathymetry =
+| caption_bathymetry =
- | location = [[Carrizo Plain National Monument]], [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo County]], [[California|California, US]]
+| location = [[Carrizo Plain National Monument]], [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo County]], [[California|California, US]]
- | coords = {{coord|35.2312|-119.8883|type:waterbody_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
+| coords = {{coord|35.2312|-119.8883|type:waterbody_region:US-CA|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
- | type = [[alkali lake]]
+| type = [[Soda lake|alkali lake]]
- | inflow =
+| inflow =
- | outflow =
+| outflow =
+|pushpin_map=California
- | catchment =
- | basin_countries = United States
+| catchment =
+| basin_countries = United States
- | length =
+| length =
- | width =
+| width =
- | area = 12 km²
+| area = {{convert|12|km2|abbr=on}}
- | depth =
+| depth =
- | max-depth =
+| max-depth =
- | volume =
+| volume =
- | residence_time =
+| residence_time =
- | shore =
+| shore =
- | elevation = 580 m
+| elevation = {{convert|580|m|abbr=on}}
- | islands =
+| frozen =
- | cities =
+| islands =
- | frozen =
+| cities =
 }}
-'''Soda Lake''' is a shallow, ephemeral, [[alkali]] [[endorheic lake]] in the [[Carrizo Plain]] in southeastern [[San Luis Obispo County, California]]. The lake is located on the southwest side of the northern [[Carrizo Plain]], 103&nbsp;km (64.0&nbsp;miles) east of [[San Luis Obispo, California|San Luis Obispo]]. It can be reached by Soda Lake Road, which runs northwest-southeast between [[California State Route 166|State Route 166]] and [[California State Route 58|State Route 58]]. The lake is at an elevation of 580&nbsp;m and covers an area of about 12&nbsp;km².
+'''Soda Lake''' is a shallow, ephemeral, [[alkaline lake|alkaline]] [[endorheic lake]] in the [[Carrizo Plain]] in southeastern [[San Luis Obispo County, California]]. The lake is located on the southwest side of the northern [[Carrizo Plain]], {{convert|103|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[San Luis Obispo, California|San Luis Obispo]]. It can be reached by Soda Lake Road, which runs northwest–southeast between [[California State Route 166|State Route 166]] and [[California State Route 58|State Route 58]]. The lake is at an elevation of {{convert|580|m|ft|abbr=on}} and covers an area of about {{convert|12|km2|abbr=on}}.
+==Endorheic drainage basin==
+[[File:Soda Lake, CA.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Soda Lake]]
+Internal drainage of the Carrizo Plain and the formation of Soda Lake began during [[Pliocene]]-[[Pleistocene]] time when [[plate tectonics|tectonic]] deformation associated with the [[San Andreas Fault]] defeated a [[stream]] that once drained the valley. An originally fresh to brackish water lake probably persisted through much of the Pleistocene during which coastal California was wetter and cooler than now. Diminished [[Holocene]] [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] and a higher [[evaporation]] rate led to shrinkage of the ancestral lake and associated increased [[salinity]] which set the stage for clay dune formation.
+About 30% of the closed or [[endorheic basin|endorheic]] [[drainage basin]] is to the north of the lake and 70% is south of it. The Soda Lake complex consists of two larger basins, and at least 130 smaller pans. The large L-shaped northern basin is about {{convert|10.5|km²|abbr=on}} in area. The remaining basins, including both those that feed the northern basin and those that have no surface outlets, comprise an area of about {{convert|4.8|km²|abbr=on}}. Water levels in the basins rise and fall seasonally. Rainfall on the Carrizo Plain is only about {{convert|20|cm|abbr=on}} in an average year but is higher on the surrounding mountains. Following exceptionally wet winters, typically [[El Niño]] years, the large northern and southern basins do not evaporate completely, although the water retreats toward the center of the basin leaving a [[salt]] crust up to {{convert|20|cm|abbr=on}} thick. Most of the large and small pans are fringed by [[clay]] dunes. It is one of the largest alkali [[wetland]]s remaining in natural condition in [[California]]. It supports [[fairy shrimp|fairy]] and [[brine shrimp]], as well as [[bird migration|migratory]] and nesting [[bird]]s. A [[boardwalk]] was built along the shore to prevent damage to the [[saltbush]] habitat that borders the lake.
+==Climate==
+{{Weather box
+|location = Soda Lake, California
+|single line = Y
+|collapsed = yes
+|Jan high F = 62
+|Feb high F = 62
+|Mar high F = 67
+|Apr high F = 71
+|May high F = 78
+|Jun high F = 87
+|Jul high F = 92
+|Aug high F = 93
+|Sep high F = 89
+|Oct high F = 79
+|Nov high F = 69
+|Dec high F = 61
+|year high F =
+|Jan low F = 34
+|Feb low F = 35
+|Mar low F = 37
+|Apr low F = 38
+|May low F = 42
+|Jun low F = 47
+|Jul low F = 52
+|Aug low F = 51
+|Sep low F = 52
+|Oct low F = 43
+|Nov low F = 37
+|Dec low F = 33
+|year low F =
+|precipitation colour = green
-[[File:Soda Lake, CA.jpg|thumb|245px|Aerial view of Soda Lake]]
+|Jan precipitation inch = 5.03
-Internal drainage of the Carrizo
+|Feb precipitation inch = 4.92
- Plain and the formation of Soda Lake began during [[Pliocene]]-[[Pleistocene]] time when [[plate tectonics|tectonic]] deformation associated with the [[San Andreas Fault]] defeated a [[stream]] that once drained the valley. An originally fresh to brackish water lake probably persisted through much of the Pleistocene during which coastal California was wetter and cooler than now. Diminished [[Holocene]] [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] and a higher [[evaporation]] rate led to shrinkage of the ancestral lake and associated increased [[salinity]] which set the stage for clay dune formation.
+|Mar precipitation inch = 4.09
+|Apr precipitation inch = 1.45
+|May precipitation inch = 0.60
+|Jun precipitation inch = 0.09
+|Jul precipitation inch = 0.01
+|Aug precipitation inch = 0.00
+|Sep precipitation inch = 0.11
+|Oct precipitation inch = 1.12
+|Nov precipitation inch = 1.80
+|Dec precipitation inch = 3.83
+|year precipitation inch=
+|source = prism<ref>Climate and monthly weather
-About 30% of the closed or [[endorheic basin|endorheic]] [[drainage basin]] is to the north of the lake and 70% is south of it. The Soda Lake complex consists of two larger basins, and at least 130 smaller pans. The large L-shaped northern basin is about 10.5&nbsp;km² in area. The remaining basins, including both those that feed the northern basin and those that have no surface outlets, comprise an area of about 4.8&nbsp;km². Water levels in the basins rise and fall seasonally. Rainfall on the Carrizo Plain is only about 20&nbsp;cm in an average year but is higher on the surrounding mountains. Following exceptionally wet winters, typically [[El Niño]] years, the large northern and southern basins do not evaporate completely, although the water retreats toward the center of the basin leaving a [[salt]] crust up to 20&nbsp;cm thick. Most of the large and small pans are fringed by [[clay]] dunes. It is one of the largest alkali [[wetland]]s remaining in natural condition in [[California]]. It supports [[fairy shrimp|fairy]] and [[brine shrimp]], as well as [[bird migration|migratory]] and nesting [[bird]]s. A [[boardwalk]] was built along the shore to prevent damage to the [[saltbush]] habitat that borders the lake.
+https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/</ref>
+}}
 ==Dunes==
-The largest [[dune]] bounds the eastern and southern edges of the northern basin. This dune is up to 470&nbsp;m wide, 16.7&nbsp;m high, and nearly 9.5&nbsp;km in length. Part of the dune is active, receiving [[sediment]] from the mud flat exposed between the dune and the [[salt pan (geology)|salt pan]]. Most of the eastern (north-south) leg of the dune, which is lower and narrower, is currently inactive. Westward retreat of the shoreline exposed the former lake flat to colonization and stabilization by salt-resistant plants.
+The largest [[dune]] bounds the eastern and southern edges of the northern basin. This dune is up to {{convert|470|m|abbr=on}} wide, {{convert|16.7|m|abbr=on}} high, and nearly {{convert|9.5|km|abbr=on}} in length. Part of the dune is active, receiving [[sediment]] from the mud flat exposed between the dune and the [[salt pan (geology)|salt pan]]. Most of the eastern (north-south) leg of the dune, which is lower and narrower, is currently inactive. Westward retreat of the shoreline exposed the former lake flat to colonization and stabilization by salt-resistant plants.
-{{Wide image|Soda Lake Panorama (8159041106).jpg|2000px|Panoramic view of Soda Lake|center}}
+{{Wide image|Soda Lake Panorama (8159041106).jpg|1000px|Panoramic view of Soda Lake|center}}
+[[File:Thenardite-215859.jpg|thumb|[[Thenardite]], an anhydrous [[sodium sulfate]] mineral from Soda Lake]]
-The Yeti (/ˈjɛti/)[3] or Abominable Snowman (Nepali: हिममानव, lit. "mountain man") is an ape-like cryptid taller than an average human that is said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet.[4] The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology. Stories of the Yeti first emerged as a facet of Western popular culture in the 19th century.
-The scientific community generally regards the Yeti as a legend, given the lack of conclusive evidence,[5] but it remains one of the most famous creatures of cryptozoology. In 2014, however, two hair samples taken from remote regions of the Himalayas have been found to show a 100 percent genetic match to a prehistoric polar-bear-like creature that existed more than 40,000 years ago.[6]
-The Yeti (/ˈjɛti/)[3] or Abominable Snowman (Nepali: हिममानव, lit. "mountain man") is an ape-like cryptid taller than an average human that is said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet.[4] The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology. Stories of the Yeti first emerged as a facet of Western popular culture in the 19th century.
-The scientific community generally regards the Yeti as a legend, given the lack of conclusive evidence,[5] but it remains one of the most famous creatures of cryptozoology. In 2014, however, two hair samples taken from remote regions of the Himalayas have been found to show a 100 percent genetic match to a prehistoric polar-bear-like creature that existed more than 40,000 years ago.[6]
 ==See also==
-*[[List of lakes in California]]
+* [[List of lakes in California]]
 ==References==
+{{reflist}}
-*[http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wildlife/watchable/areas/carrizo.1.html United States Bureau of Land Management - Carrizo Plain National Monument]
-*[http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/carrizo/html/a023.htm United States Geological Survey - Carrizo Plain National Monument, California]
+*[http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wildlife/watchable/areas/carrizo.1.html United States Bureau of Land Management - Carrizo Plain National Monument] (Dead link)
+*[http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/carrizo/html/a023.htm United States Geological Survey - Carrizo Plain National Monument, California] (Dead link)
 ==External links==
+{{Commons category|Soda Lake (San Luis Obispo County)}}
 *[http://www.virtualguidebooks.com/CentralCalif/ElCaminoReal/SodaLakePaintedRock/SodaLakePaintedRock.php Virtual Guidebooks - Panoramas of Soda Lake]
-[[Category:Lakes of California]]
 [[Category:Landforms of San Luis Obispo County, California]]
 [[Category:Endorheic lakes of California]]
 [[Category:Dunes of California]]
+[[Category:Bodies of water of San Luis Obispo County, California]]
+<!--OVERCAT, see Category:Endorheic lakes of California--[[Category:Lakes of California]]-->