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Climate Workshop

Impact of Climate Change on the Great Lakes Ecosystem - A NOAA Science Needs Assessment Workshop to Meet Emerging Challenges

July 29 - 31, 2008

Hosted by:
NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)
Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research (CILER)
Great Lakes Sea Grant Network
NOAA Great Lakes Regional Team

Workshop Location:
School of Natural Resources and Environment
University of Michigan Central Campus
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Climate Workshop Agenda

Workshop Registration Information (.pdf)

Hockey Sticks & Politics: Science in the Arena of National Climate Policy (.pdf) (Henry Pollack - Keynote)

Participant List (.pdf)

Introduction

The overarching purpose of the workshop is to develop a NOAA research strategy that addresses climate change impact on Great Lakes coastal ecosystems as driven by user needs. The workshop will bring together NOAA and other Great Lakes scientists together with stakeholders to:

  1. Examine the current state of knowledge of the physical, chemical, and biological impact of climate change on Great Lakes coastal waters and connecting channels. Such a knowledge base includes current scientific understanding, products, services, expertise, monitoring and observing systems, datasets and forecast models.
  2. Develop a dialogue with Great Lakes stakeholders to identify their key concerns related to the impact of climate change on Great Lakes resources.
  3. Document key challenges that climate change impacts pose in continuing effective management, restoration and protection of the integrity of the Great Lakes Ecosystem and related resources of particular concern to stakeholders. Key theme areas include:
    1. Physical Environment – Nearshore and Offshore Waves and Currents, Rip Currents, Storm Surge, Coastal Erosion, Spill / Search and Rescue, Ice Thickness/Extent/Duration, Seasonal Warming / Cooling, Vertical Temperature Profiles, Mixing and Dead Zones (Hypoxia)
    2. Seasonal Precipitation and Frequency of Heavy Rainstorms –Flooding, Combined Sewer Overflows, Erosion, and Sediment and Nutrient loading
    3. Water Quantity – Lake Water Levels and Flows in Tributaries and Connecting Channels
    4. Water Quality - Eutrophication and Nutrients, Contaminants, Turbidity/Clarity, Taste and Odor
    5. Human Health – Waterborne Illnesses, Beach Closures, harmful algal blooms, drinking water quality
    6. Fish Recruitment and Productivity – Abundance by Species, Size, Condition, Distribution, Habitat, and Food Web Structure and Function
    7. Aquatic Invasive Species – New Introductions, Spread and Ecosystem Impacts
  4. Identify and apply presently available scientific expertise, products, services, monitoring and observing systems and forecast models that best support needs of stakeholders in confronting impacts of climate change in protecting, managing, or restoring Great Lakes resources.
  5. Identify new scientific research efforts and resulting products that will enhance stakeholder capabilities to better anticipate impacts of climate change on Great Lakes resources and develop more effective, pre-emptive strategies to meet new challenges in managing, protecting, or restoring such resources.
  6. Compile and disseminate a report summarizing workshop proceedings and recommendations

Workshop Format

Day 1 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008; 8 AM – 5 PM) will feature a series of scientific presentations / Q&A’s on the current state of knowledge of present and expected future impact of climate change on the Great Lakes ecosystem, with prime focus on effects in coastal waters and connecting channels.

Day 2 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008; 8 AM – 5 PM) will feature a series of stakeholder presentations / Q&A’s outlining key issues and concerns in confronting anticipated impacts of climate change on the Great Lakes ecosystem meeting new challenges in managing, protecting or restoring resources.

Day 3 (Thursday, July 31, 2008; 8 AM – 3PM) will feature a set of 6 concurrent Breakout Sessions that will address science and stakeholder issues divided among the Key Theme areas defined above.

Context

The workshop is a first step toward developing an expanded dialogue between the Great Lakes scientific community and Great Lakes stakeholders that promotes and strengthens two-way communication and an ongoing process which:

  1. Increases stakeholder awareness of existing and future scientific products, services, and expertise that will enable stakeholders to develop more effective, science-based strategies to meet future challenges in managing, protecting or restoring Great Lakes resources in the face of climate change impacts.
  2. Increases awareness in the Great Lakes scientific community of immediate and emerging stakeholder needs and allow scientists to respond to such needs by fine-tuning existing research activities, or by planning and developing new research efforts.

For Additional Information:, contact Mike Quigley; ( ), Phone: 734 741 2149