Question

The city of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada is on the shore of Great Slave Lake. The average high temperature in July is \(21^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and the average low in January is \(-31{ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Great Slave Lake has a volume of \(2090 \mathrm{~km}^{3}\) and is the deepest lake in North America, with a depth of \(614 \mathrm{~m} .\) What is the temperature of the water at the bottom of Great Slave Lake in January? a) \(-31^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) b) \(-10^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) c) \(0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) d) \(4^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) e) \(32^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\)

Short answer

Answer: d) 4°C

Step-by-step solution

Identify the constant temperature at the bottom of deep lakes

The temperature at the bottom of deep lakes generally remains constant throughout the year at around \(4^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\).

Find the temperature at the bottom of Great Slave Lake in January

Since the temperature at the bottom of deep lakes remains constant, we know that the temperature at the bottom of Great Slave Lake in January is also around \(4^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\).

Choose the correct answer

The correct answer is the one that has a temperature of \(4^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Looking at the options, we find that the correct answer is: d) \(4^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\)