A study of pollen grains found in nearby Rogers Lake (Lyme-Old Lyme) sediments found pollen dating back to 14 thousand years ago, which is when this lake was first formed, and perhaps also Pattagansett Lake. Pollen from this time to about 12 thousand years ago showed that the surrounding land was a tundra, dominated by grasses and small trees like birches. From 12 to 9 thousand years ago rates of pollen deposition into the lake Read more…
Pattagansett Lake is no different than many other lakes in temperate climates having more than just shallow depths: it stratifies thermally during warmer months. Stratification means that lake water separates into discrete layers by temperature with the warmest water at the surface and the coolest at the bottom. In late spring the temperature differences become large enough that the water layers become resistant to mixing by wind. Limnologists (scientists who study lakes) refer to the upper, warm Read more…