Mixing below the ice occurs due to density currents generated by heat from direct solar radiation and from meltwater runoff which may differ in density from the lake water due to both temperature and suspended sediment content, depending on its source and flow path. Despite these processes, the effects of wind at the lake surface are highly reduced due to the ice cover, and so vertical mixing of the water column may be incomplete. This may result in anoxic conditions, which has implications for biogeochemical processes within the lake.
The intermingling of water beneath the ice is influenced by differences in density caused by solar radiation and meltwater runoff, which can vary depending on their source and flow path. This process has implications for the lake's biogeochemical processes, particularly those related to oxygen levels.