Maximum Depth and Average Depth of Lakes

Abstract

By considering data of maximum depth and average depth for 107 lakes, it is suggested that an 'elliptic sinusoid' closely approximates the average shape of lake beds. The elliptic sinusoid is defined as a geometric body whose base is an ellipse such that planes perpendicular to the base ellipse passing through the centre of the latter intersect the surface of the body along troughs of sine curves. The results are capable of practical application.