Articles tagged with Lakes
A new study reveals a clear link between high E. coli bacteria levels in inland Ohio lakes and increased risk of gastrointestinal illness among swimmers. The researchers argue that a reliable method to predict when bacteria levels are likely to be higher is needed to issue timely warnings.
A team will evaluate watershed sources, lake water stratification, and wind conditions to develop a predictive model for potential changes in hypoxia. The results will help identify acceptable limits for nutrient levels to reduce hypoxia in Green Bay.
Scientists find that water fleas facilitate bacterial dispersal, allowing microbes to reach inaccessible habitats. The 'conveyor-belt' hypothesis is confirmed through lab and field experiments.
Researchers have developed a small robot named ROCR that can climb walls efficiently, achieving 20% efficiency in climbing tests. The robot uses a swinging motion inspired by human climbers and animals to minimize energy consumption.
Researchers are investigating how different forms of phosphorus trigger toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes, with a focus on the blue-green algae species Microcystis. Understanding which types of phosphorus are most instrumental in stimulating bloom formation is crucial for protecting public health and the coastal ecosystem.
A $2.5 million grant from NOAA will support research on invasive species in the Great Lakes, aiming to predict future invasions and develop effective control measures.
The University of Nevada, Reno has successfully mapped the bottom of Fallen Leaf Lake using a state-of-the-art multi-beam sonar system, revealing details of ancient trees and earthquake activity. The technology allows for high-definition mapping with several centimeter depth resolution.
A statistical analysis of chemicals found in walleye ear bones reveals that almost all Maumee-spawned walleyes were hatched there, but only two-thirds of Sandusky-spawned walleyes originated from the same river. This study helps wildlife officials determine which rivers are at risk of overfishing.
New research reveals that some North American monarchs born in the Midwest and Great Lakes fly directly east over the Appalachians and settle along the eastern seaboard. The study suggests that the viability of east coast populations is highly dependent upon productivity on the other side of the mountains.
Research at Uppsala University found a strong connection between lake sediment temperature and carbon dioxide production. A warmer climate is expected to increase carbon dioxide emissions by 4-27% over the next hundred years due to decreased organic carbon deposition.
Researchers have discovered changes in lake levels on Titan, with the southern hemisphere experiencing a 1-meter-per-year drop in lake depth. The decrease is attributed to seasonal evaporation of liquid methane from lakes, which are composed mainly of this substance.
A comprehensive study found mercury levels in Lake Erie walleye are rising, contrary to declines in other Great Lakes fish. The increase is attributed to environmental factors like invasive mussel populations and food web modifications.
A recent study found that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) explanation for global warming is flawed, with ENSO contributing less than a third of the signal. Meanwhile, researchers question whether permafrost thaw poses a reduced risk to global warming due to its potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
A team of American scientists from the University of Nevada, Reno, is working to find solutions to Guatemala's Lake Atitlan's algae bloom problem. They are building on research started in the 1970s and have collected data and samples from the lake, including sediment cores and near-shore sampling.
Researchers are using a robotic submarine and sensors to gather data on larval fish growth and survival in Lake Michigan. They're correlating growth rates with water temperatures, wind patterns, and other environmental factors to understand how climate change may affect young fish.
Michigan State University scientists have developed a pioneering landscape limnology approach that integrates freshwater lakes, streams, and wetlands. This framework uses GIS data and models to provide science-based tools for managing and protecting these bodies of water.
Researchers have found that marine fossils in Florida's sandy ridges are tied to the land's uplift, rather than rising sea levels. The process is driven by a combination of weather patterns and geology, including karstification and isostatic rebound. As a result, some ridges have been preserved with their ancient marine fossils intact.
A University of Minnesota study reveals a significant increase in dioxin levels derived from triclosan in the Mississippi River sediment over the past 30 years, while other dioxins have decreased. The study also found that triclosan-derived dioxins account for about 30% of total dioxin mass in Lake Pepin sediments.
The lake's surface waters have warmed by 3 degrees F since 1900, driving a decline in productivity and impacting the fishery. The research provides a detailed record of temperature and its impacts on a tropical African ecosystem.
The lake's surface waters have reached the warmest temperature on record, affecting fish productivity and ecosystem. Climate change models predict further warming, exacerbating the decline of fish stocks and impacting the region's food security.
Researchers at Brown University have found that Lake Tanganyika has experienced unprecedented warming over the last century, with surface waters reaching record highs. This warming is expected to affect fish stocks, which are crucial for millions of people in the region, and could have severe consequences for local livelihoods.
Research found that forestry access roads can negatively affect walleye populations in remote lakes, with lakes containing the species needing more protection. The presence and location of roads also impact lake fishing quality and accessibility.
Researchers at Purdue University discovered that lake sturgeon have genes from a parasitic worm and a protozoan parasite that causes a sexually transmitted disease in humans. This finding could lead to new methods of sex determination without harming the fish, which are endangered due to overfishing and pollution.
Researchers have discovered prehistoric fish trails, made by the ancient species Notogoneus osculus, in Wyoming's former Fossil Lake. The study provides evidence that fish were able to survive on the lake bottom despite low oxygen levels.
Research by Indiana University scientists reveals that lake shape is a powerful factor controlling fungal disease epidemics. U-shaped lakes are more prone to epidemics due to the presence of Chaoborus, an invertebrate predator that spreads spores and catalyzes epidemics.
This study examines the correlation between end-Triassic mass extinction and flood basalt volcanism, as well as the effects of water depth on pumice formation in submarine domes. It also investigates the relationship between climatic conditions and soil erosion during the last glacial cycle.
Researchers found evidence of four 'megafloods' in Glacial Lake Atna, which breached ice dams and released up to 1,400 cubic kilometers of water. The floods formed massive dunes over 110 feet high, with some still visible on topographical maps.
The Genesis project successfully tested wireless broadband technology in the Pyrenees, providing a reliable VoIP service for telephones and multimedia applications. The system demonstrated seamless use of high-quality services and access to various Internet-based applications.
A new study explores the variability in fossil assemblages, finding that communities may be more resilient than thought. The researchers used living and fossil communities to investigate the factors affecting the low variability seen in fossil records.
A small group of people with the ability to multitask have been found to be able to drive safely while using a cell phone. The study, conducted by psychologists Jason Watson and David Strayer, found that these individuals, known as 'supertaskers,' showed no impairment on their driving performance when also talking on a cell phone.
A new study published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences found that dormancy is crucial for maintaining microbial diversity in natural communities. Researchers used a mathematical model and molecular tools to investigate how dormancy affects biodiversity, especially in lakes.
Research on the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog reveals strong site fidelity, but also highlights the negative impacts of a changing climate and introduced non-native trout. The study found that frogs with strong site fidelity are returning to lakes that dry up or have reduced breeding success due to predation by invasive trout.
Research reveals high levels of contamination to water and sediment in Frenchman's Bay due to road salt applied in winter. The study found that 3,600 tonnes of road salt end up in the bay every winter, poisoning it for the rest of the year.
A University of Iowa study measures the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments, water, suspended particles, and air along the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. The study finds that PCBs are a significant source of pollution, with annual emissions estimated at 4 kg to water and 7 kg to air.
The February issue of Lithosphere highlights the evolution of the northwestern Red Sea, with two main tectonic events contributing to its formation. The study also explores the Fish Lake Valley fault in eastern California and the incision of major rivers into the Tibetan Plateau's bedrock.
Researchers studying supra-glacial lakes on the Greenland ice sheet seek to understand their role in shaping the ice sheet's topography. The lakes form when melting water collects in pools in the lower levels of the ice sheet, and drain rapidly through cracks in the ice.
A new $1.3 million study aims to understand and simulate 'cold-air pools' that trap pollutants in the Salt Lake Valley, causing poor air quality. The research will utilize models and instruments to analyze temperature and wind patterns, shedding light on the challenges of simulating these events.
The viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) has been detected in fish from Lake Superior, Paradise, and Skanee in Michigan, and St. Louis Bay and Superior Bay in Wisconsin. The presence of the virus in all Great Lakes poses a significant threat to New York's $1.4 billion annual sport-fishing industry.
A recent study found that midwife toads living in mountain regions are highly susceptible to a serious fungal infection called chytridiomycosis, which can lead to up to 100% mortality rates. Conservationists may be able to limit the impact of the disease by ensuring tourists do not transfer it between lakes.
A new study found that fluctuating water chemistry and temperature variations in freshwater lakes can actually increase biodiversity, while a stable but variable environment can also be detrimental. Zooplankton populations respond quickly to changes due to their fast reproduction rate.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have devised a new solar pond distillation system that uses patented membrane distillation and renewable energy to produce freshwater. The system has shown high success in lab experiments and is expected to provide a sustainable solution for terminus lakes around the world.
A study by C. Rhett Jackson and Catherine M. Pringle found that reducing water flow rates can create ecological benefits, such as protecting endangered species and mitigating pollution effects. However, restoring natural flows can also lead to detrimental changes in vegetation that harm animals.
Researchers from Imperial College London and UCL found evidence of ancient lakes on Mars using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter images. The study suggests that Mars had warm and wet periods approximately 3 billion years ago, potentially creating habitats suitable for microbial life.
Research published in PLoS Biology discovered the adaptation of African cichlid fish visual sensitivity to ecological factors such as diet and water clarity. The study showed that both changes in gene expression and sequence contribute to organismal diversity, with complementary effects.
Researchers found that the Big Freeze was triggered by a sudden freshwater pulse from Lake Agassiz in North America, which diluted the North Atlantic conveyor belt and led to rapid temperature drops. The climate took centuries to recover.
Researchers suggest that the planet's oblong orbit exposes different areas of Titan to varying amounts of sunlight, affecting precipitation and evaporation cycles. This leads to an uneven distribution of lakes in the northern and southern polar regions.
Scientists have observed a phenomenon known as confinement of spinons in a condensed matter system, where individual particles behave like quarks. The researchers used neutron scattering experiments to study the crystal and magnetic structure, finding evidence for the confinement idea.
Researchers found PAHs in house dust near coal-tar-based sealcoat and used spiders as sentinels for contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. African dust carried persistent organic contaminants and metals across the ocean affecting native species. Scientists also explored using pheromones to control invasive Asian carp.
Scientists are concerned about the buildup of carbon dioxide and methane gas in Lake Kivu, which could lead to a catastrophic explosion. The lake's unique combination of geological features and lack of circulation makes it vulnerable to disturbances, posing a threat to the approximately 2 million people living nearby.
Researchers found a significant increase in wind speed and current strength on Lake Superior, but a decrease in chlorophyll levels due to temperature stratification. This affects the lake's ecosystem and may impact airborne pollutants and nearby communities.
Researchers have discovered hidden glacial valleys in Alberta that contain valuable resources, including loose rock and natural gas, posing risks of accidents and environmental damage. The valleys were found using a combination of seismic and electrical mapping data, highlighting the importance of advanced underground mapping practices.
Researchers will drill through the Whillans Ice Stream and Ross Ice Shelf, sampling rivers, lakes, and microbial communities. The study aims to understand how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to past climate changes and potentially discover new organisms that can produce beneficial compounds.
A study published in Science reveals that airborne nitrogen from fossil fuels and fertilizers affects alpine lakes, altering the balance of phosphorus and nitrogen. This shift limits phytoplankton growth, affecting food webs and potentially biodiversity.
The University of Utah has celebrated the 'first light' of its new research telescope at 9,600 feet elevation on Frisco Peak. The 32-inch reflecting telescope took initial pictures on Oct. 15 and will be used for scientific observations starting next spring.
Scientists at Michigan State University are developing robotic fish that use advanced materials to swim like fish and monitor water quality. The robots will carry sensors recording temperature, dissolved oxygen, pollutants, and harmful algae, providing a high spatial and temporal resolution of data.
A study found that living near a variety of restaurants and supermarkets lowers the risk of obesity. In contrast, residents who live far from any food outlets are more likely to be overweight. The researchers also found that access to healthy grocery options in low-income neighborhoods significantly reduces obesity rates.
The University of Nevada, Reno has received an $890,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to establish a national community-user facility for environmental sensing. This facility will provide state-of-the-art fiber-optic distributed temperature (DTS) instrumentation and equipment to researchers nationwide.
A PNAS paper reveals that dramatic changes in the Arctic began after the midpoint of the 20th century and are unprecedented. The unique sediment cores contain rare paleoclimate information about the past 200,000 years, providing a longer record than most other sediments.
A new research project will drill through a half-mile of ice to penetrate subglacial Lake Whillans, studying hidden processes that govern the dynamics of the West Antarctic ice sheet. The team aims to develop predictive models of polar melting and understand how subglacial lakes influence ice motion.
A new study finds that glacial melting is releasing persistent organic pollutants into lakes, despite decreased use of these compounds in products. The pollutants were deposited earlier and preserved over decades, with the flow increasing sharply since the late 1990s.