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Home > Research by Programs > EOS
Environmental Observing Systems
Task Leader: Steve Ruberg
Highlights
Real-time Environmental Coastal
Observations Network (RECON): Real-time Data![buoy](resources/buoy.jpg)
The goal of the RECON project is to develop a national network
of low cost coastal buoys capable of seabed to sea-surface observations. The RECON
system currently in place in the Great Lakes has national and
regional applications. This wireless Internet observation system,
with shore stations at four coastal locations covering approximately
800 square miles of sea surface, uses commercially available
networking equipment allowing straightforward integration
into a nationwide network. Each system collects meteorological
data and provides sub-surface measurements of chemical, biological,
and physical parameters. The system is designed to allow
controlled access to multi-institutional users through surface
buoys and sub-surface sensor guest ports located on an underwater
hub. The observation network currently provides environmental
data to state, federal, and university researchers, educators
and resource managers.
+ View Data
International Field Years on Lake Erie (IFYLE)
The field work for the IFYLE project has concluded and data will soon
be available to the public.
CoastWatch Great Lakes and NOAA
Ocean Communications Network
CoastWatch is a nationwide National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration program. The NOAA
Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory functions as the Great Lakes regional node.
GLERL is currently receiving an enhanced digital image product suite of 28 images including
satellite-derived surface temperature, visible and near-infrared reflectance, brightness
temperatures, cloud masks, and satellite/solar zenith angle data from the NOAA/AVHRR (Advanced
Very High Resolution Radiometer) series of satellites as well as GOES (Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellites) visible, near infrared, and water vapor data.
Current Featured Projects
In-Situ Monitoring of Cyanobacterial
HABs in Western Lake Erie using Buoy-mounted Sensors
Real-time information about the development of toxic algal blooms is of great
interest to water treatment plant managers throughout the Great Lakes. This project
has direct links to forecasting the timing and spread of toxic Microcystis blooms.
Maumee Bay is an important site due to the high nutrient input and the combination
of nutrient and cyanobacterial data from this key location. The ultimate goal is to
forecast the presence, extent and timing of cyanobacterial HAB blooms in Lake Erie.
However, as good as our predictions become, there will always be a need for real-time
monitoring of both cells and toxins in order to provide model input and confirm
predictions. These buoy-based sensors also have great potential as an early warning
system for HAB blooms in locations such as swimming beaches or drinking water intakes.
Environmental Monitoring with
Airborne Hyperspectral Imagery (HABs Prediction)
NASA and NOAA are planning to utilize manned and unmanned (UAV) aircraft to monitor
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the western basin of Lake Erie. Blooms form, spread
and disappear within a four to eight week time period in late summer and are a concern
for human health, fish and wildlife because they can contain the toxin microcystin.
In the Great Lakes, a common form of microcystin is Microcystin-LR, one of the most
toxic strains of microcystin. Because of this toxicity, blooms must be continually
monitored. This mission is well suited for UAVs because the blooms are highly dynamic
events spread over large areas. High resolution satellite data (such as Landsat)
will provide spatial data, but will not give temporal resolution because of the
infrequent overpasses and the blooms’ quick spread.
Thermal Structure Monitoring and
Related Studies
The purpose of this project is to
develop improved climatological information through 1.) observations; 2.) new instrumentation;
3.) improved analyses of the distribution and variability of coastal and offshore temperatures;
and 4.) by studying their dependence on meteorological and hydrological forces, with emphasis
on potential changes in climate. These studies provide data for improving numerical models
that can simulate and predict the thermal structure in the lakes, as well.
Complete listing of GLERL Environmental
Observing Systems Program Projects
Data products
Great Lakes Surface
Environmental Analysis (GLSEA)
A digital map of the Great Lakes surface water temperature and ice cover which is produced
daily at the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Ann Arbor,
Michigan through the NOAA CoastWatch program. The GLSEA is stored as a 512x512 pixel map
in GIF format, suitable for viewing on PCs and workstations with readily available software.
NOAA Great Lakes CoastWatch
Current Visible Reflectance Products
Great Lakes CoastWatch visible reflectance products are produced using two types of
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite data. AVHRR channel 2
(reflected infrared at frequency 0.725-1.0 µm) and channel 1 (visible light at frequency
0.58-0.68 µm) from daytime passes of NOAA polar orbiting satellites are used to produce
this data, which is useful in the detection of suspended solids and algal blooms
in the Great Lakes.
The
Great Lakes Operational Forecasting System (GLOFS)*
The Great Lakes Operational Forecast System (GLOFS) is a NOAA automated model-based
prediction system aimed at providing improved predictions (guidance) of water levels,
water currents and water temperatures in the 5 Great Lakes (Erie, Michigan, Superior,
Huron and Ontario) for the commercial, recreation, and emergency response communities.
GLOFS generates hourly nowcast guidance (analyses) and four times daily forecast
guidance (out to 30 hours) of total water level, current speed and direction, and
water temperature for each of the Great Lakes. The GLOFS predictions will enable
users to increase the margin of safety and maximize the efficiency of commerce
throughout the Great Lakes.
GLOFS uses as its hydrodynamic model, a version of the Princeton Ocean Model (POM),
a sigma coordinate (vertical), curvilinear coordinate (horizontal), free surface, ocean model,
which includes a turbulence sub-model. POM was developed in the late 1970's by Dr. Alan Blumberg
and Dr. George Mellor, with subsequent contributions from numerous other researchers. The model
has been used for modeling of estuaries, coastal regions, basin and global oceans. The present
version of POM used by GLOFS has been adapted to the Great Lakes in work led by Dr. David Schwab
at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and researchers at
The Ohio State University.
Lang, G. A. and D. J. Schwab. Episodic Events: Great Lakes Experiment
Data Archive. NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann
Arbor, MI, 2 CD-ROM Set (2003).
Complete Listing of GLERL Data Products
![return to top](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090825205620im_/http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Res_images/top.gif)
*Link leads off GLERL's website
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Program Background
Rapid advancements in remote sensing, the miniaturization of sensors,
and other unmanned technologies have vastly increased the data generating
capabilities of the scientific community. The goal of GLERL's Environmental
Observing Systems research program is to advance our understanding of
the effects of biological, chemical, physical, and human-induced changes
on ecosystems and to provide useful predictive tools for the public and resource managers.
More background information
Recent Publications
Biddanda, B.A., D.F. Coleman, T.H. Johengen, S.A. Ruberg, G.A. Meadows,
H.W. VanSumeren, R.R. Rediske, and S.T. Kendall. Exploration of a submerged
sinkhole ecosystem in Lake Huron. /Ecosystems/ (online publication) 23 pp. (2006).
+ download file [html]
+ download article [pdf]
Hawley, N., T.H. Johengen, Y.R. Rao, S.A. Ruberg, D. Beletsky, S.A. Ludsin, B.J.
Eadie, D.J. Schwab, T.E. Croley II, and S.B. Brandt. Lake Erie hypoxia prompts
Canada-U.S. study. /Eos Transactions/ 86(32):313-319 (2006).
+ download article [pdf ]
Lee, C.-H., D. J. Schwab, and N. Hawley. Sensitivity analysis of sediment
resuspension parameters in coastal area of southern Lake Michigan. Journal
of Geophysical Research 110(C03004):16 (2005).
+ download file [pdf]
Plattner, S., D. M. Mason, G. A. Leshkevich, D. J. Schwab, and E. S. Rutherford.
Classifying and forecasting coastal upwellings in Lake Michigan using satellite derived
temperature images and buoy data. Journal of Great Lakes Research 32:63-76 (2006).
+ download article [pdf]
Complete list of GLERL Publications
Selected Brochures
NOAA CoastWatch Program in the Great Lakes (.pdf)
Meteorological Stations and Web Cams (.pdf)
Selected projects of
GLERL's Marine Instrumentation Laboratory (.pdf)
All GLERL Brochures
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