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Interannual Variability of Lake Superior’s Temperature: Consequences for cold-water fishes

This study examines the interannual variability of Lake Superior's temperature and its implications for cold-water fishes. It discusses data collection, temperature trends, and the potential consequences of climate change on the lake's ecosystem.

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Interannual Variability of Lake Superior’s Temperature: Consequences for cold-water fishes

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  1. Interannual Variability of Lake Superior’s Temperature: Consequences for cold-water fishes Elise A. Ralph, Large Lakes Observatory & Physics-Duluth Thomas Hrabik, Biology-Duluth University of Minnesota

  2. Outline • Data Collection • Temperature Variability • Implications for Cold-water fishes

  3. Western Lake Superior: 1995-2002 Port Wing Two Harbors N Two Harbors, MN Port Wing, WI Duluth

  4. May 1998-May 2000 KITES and WLS Current measurements : 60 minutes Temperature measurements : 15 minutes

  5. Weather causes rapid temperature changes at depths as deep as 50 meters

  6. Wind-Driven Variability

  7. Interannual Variability

  8. Interannual Variability

  9. Long-term Global-wide changes

  10. Predicted change in temperature with double CO2

  11. Predicted changes within the lakes What has happened so far?

  12. Annual Temperature Anomalies Trend is 0.87 degrees over 90 years of record

  13. 10-14 degree range: Thermal Niche for cold-water fish (Lake Trout and Herring)

  14. Thickness of thermal niche thickness for cold-water fish (10-14 degrees C)

  15. CONCLUSIONS and CONSEQUENCES: Lake Superior undergoes temperature changes over time scales ranging from days to decades. By observing these changes and their consequences, we can begin to understand what may happen to the Lake during climate change. Lake Superior temperatures have risen by approximately 1 degree over the past century.The summer stratified season has gotten 20 days longer. Winter mixing (“turn-over”) is an important source of oxygen to deep lake waters. If the temperature increase is consistent with model predictions, winter-mixing will shut off. Changes in stratification, as well as mean temperature, affect the thickness and duration of thermal niches.

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