High-frequency lake data benefits society through broader engagement with stakeholders: a synthesis of GLEON data use survey and member experiences

The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) has a tremendous opportunity to facilitate greater publicunderstanding of lakes and enable evidence-based decision making for freshwater ecosystems with high frequencydata. To investigate this potential as well as the scope of outreach activities currently underway, we surveyed the 46GLEON sites active as of 2013 about the uses of the high-frequency lake data (HFD). Of the 26 who responded, 69%engaged in or were aware of the use of GLEON HFD beyond academics. To highlight some of the outreach activitiesconducted in collaboration with GLEON scientists, we elaborate on 3 categories of data use: (1) engaging with citizens, (2) educating students and teachers, and (3) aiding in decision making. When synthesized with a discussion of examples of broader engagement activities across the network from the perspective of participants, the results suggest GLEON?s network science approach enables the diffusion of ideas and tools for conducting effective outreach. Results also point to opportunities for GLEON to build on existing experience to encourage greater engagement of member scientists in lake conservation, restoration, and management. In light of the growing challenges in managing water quality and quantity, our findings will help determine best practices and provide guidance to scientists on how to engage a broader range of stakeholders in lake research and management.Fil: Smyth, Robyn L.. Bard College; Estados UnidosFil: Caruso, Alicia. Bard College; Estados UnidosFil: Borre, Lisa. Cary Institute Of Ecosystem Studies; Estados UnidosFil: Zhu, Guangwei. Chinese Academy Of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Zhu, Mengyuan. Chinese Academy Of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Hetherington, Amy. Cornell University; Estados UnidosFil: Jennings, Eleanor. Dundalk Institute Of Technology; IrlandaFil: Klug, Jennifer. Fairfield University; Estados UnidosFil: Piccolo, Maria Cintia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; ArgentinaFil: Rusak, James. Ontario Ministry Of The Environment And Climate Change; Canadá. Queen’s University; CanadáFil: Weathers, Kathleen.. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies,; Estados UnidosFil: Wigdahl Perry, Courtney. State University of New York; Estados Unido

High-frequency lake data benefits society through broader engagement with citizens, stakeholders, and decision makers: a synthesis of GLEON data use survey and member experiences

The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) has a tremendous opportunity to facilitate greater public understanding of lakes and enable evidence-based decision making for freshwater ecosystems with high frequency data. To investigate this potential as well as the scope of outreach activities currently underway, we surveyed the 46 GLEON sites active as of 2013 about the uses of the high-frequency lake data (HFD). Of the 26 who responded, 69% engaged in or were aware of the use of GLEON HFD beyond academics. To highlight some of the outreach activities conducted in collaboration with GLEON scientists, we elaborate on 3 categories of data use: (1) engaging with citizens, (2) educating students and teachers, and (3) aiding in decision making. When synthesized with a discussion of examples of broader engagement activities across the network from the perspective of participants, the results suggest GLEON’s network science approach enables the diffusion of ideas and tools for conducting effective outreach. Results also point to opportunities for GLEON to build on existing experience to encourage greater engagement of member scientists in lake conservation, restoration, and management. In light of the growing challenges in managing water quality and quantity, our findings will help determine best practices and provide guidance to scientists on how to engage a broader range of stakeholders in lake research and management

Transparency, Geomorphology and Mixing Regime Explain Variability in Trends in Lake Temperature and Stratification across Northeastern North America (1975–2014)

Lake surface water temperatures are warming worldwide, raising concerns about the future integrity of valuable lake ecosystem services. In contrast to surface water temperatures, we know far less about what is happening to water temperature beneath the surface, where most organisms live. Moreover, we know little about which characteristics make lakes more or less sensitive to climate change and other environmental stressors. We examined changes in lake thermal structure for 231 lakes across northeastern North America (NENA), a region with an exceptionally high density of lakes. We determined how lake thermal structure has changed in recent decades (1975–2012) and assessed which lake characteristics are related to changes in lake thermal structure. In general, NENA lakes had increasing near-surface temperatures and thermal stratification strength. On average, changes in deepwater temperatures for the 231 lakes were not significantly different than zero, but individually, half of the lakes experienced warming and half cooling deepwater temperature through time. More transparent lakes (Secchi transparency >5 m) tended to have higher near-surface warming and greater increases in strength of thermal stratification than less transparent lakes. Whole-lake warming was greatest in polymictic lakes, where frequent summer mixing distributed heat throughout the water column. Lakes often function as important sentinels of climate change, but lake characteristics within and across regions modify the magnitude of the signal with important implications for lake biology, ecology and chemistry