Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| DOI | 10.5194/essd-18-117-2026 |
Licence  |
|
| Title (Primary) | The German small lake and pond inventory |
| Author | Wachholz, A.; Schmidt, S.I.
; Arle, J.; Völker, J. |
| Source Titel | Earth System Science Data |
| Year | 2026 |
| Department | SEEFO |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Page From | 117 |
| Page To | 129 |
| Language | englisch |
| Topic | T5 Future Landscapes |
| Data and Software links | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14228168 |
| Supplements | Supplement 1 |
| Abstract | Small lakes and
ponds are hotspots of biodiversity, biogeochemical reactions, and
hydrological interactions in the landscape. While mostly providing the
same functions as larger lakes, they often do so at higher rates per
unit area. Exponentially more abundant than larger lakes, small lakes,
and ponds contribute significantly to biodiversity, nutrient retention,
and the water budget, even at large spatial scales. However, they are
rarely considered in regional or larger-scale environmental studies,
partly due to a lack of data. To alleviate this, we developed the German
Small Lake and Pond Inventory (GSLPI), a comprehensive database of over
260 000 small lakes and ponds ranging in size from 10 to 500 000 m2 (50 ha or 0.5 km2).
Using only openly available data from Germany's federal states, we
provide information on lake or pond location, shape, depth, volume, and
connectivity. With this database, we aim to facilitate the integration
of small lakes and ponds into environmental research and enhance
understanding of their roles within changing landscapes. |
| Wachholz, A., Schmidt, S.I., Arle, J., Völker, J. (2026): The German small lake and pond inventory Earth Syst. Sci. Data 18 (1), 117 - 129 10.5194/essd-18-117-2026 |
|