Increasing maximum lake surface temperature under climate change

Abstract Annual maximum lake surface temperature influences ecosystem structure and function and, in particular, the rates of metabolic activities, species survival biogeography. Here, we evaluated 50 years observational data, from 1966 to 2015, for ten European lakes quantify changes annual duration above a potentially critical 20 °C. Our results show that has increased at an average rate +0.58 °C decade ?1 (95% confidence interval 0.18), which is similar observed increase air +0.42 0.28) over same period. Increments among range +0.1 west +1.9 east. Absolute water temperatures were reached Wörthersee, 27.5 °C, Neusiedler See, 31.7 Periods exceeding each year became two six times longer than respective (6 93). The depth exceeded less 1 more 6 m Mondsee, Austria, studied. As consequence, habitable environment increasingly restricted many organisms are adapted historic conditions.