Theory 30/Competing Rates/Lakes
Lake Level Is a Balance
The claim
Lake level responds to the ratio of evaporation to inflow rather than to rainfall alone, so a wetter basin with more evaporation can fall.
01Mechanism
Level integrates inflow minus evaporation; the ratio determines the sign of change independent of the total.
02Prediction
Level change should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Level tracking rainfall would remove evaporation.