Linking weather patterns, water quality and invasive mussel distributions in the development and application of a water clarity index for the Great Lakes

Varis Ransibrahmanakul, Simon J. Pittman, Douglas E. Pirhalla, Scott C. Sheridan, Cameron C. Lee, Brian B. Barnes, Chuanmin Hu, Karsten Shein

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The Great Lakes contain 84% of the fresh water in North America and provide many critical and valuable ecosystem services to lakeside communities. In the past decade, a rapid ecosystem regime shift has occurred where changing precipitation and runoff patterns, along with invasive zebra and quagga mussels, have contributed to dramatic lake-specific responses in water clarity, reductions in phytoplankton, increases in toxic algal blooms, and disruptions in the food chain. Focusing on Lake Michigan, this study applies a newly improved remote sensing algorithm for water clarity and integrates meteorological data and in-situ sampling of mussels to understand the spatial and temporal linkages between historical weather patterns, water clarity and mussel abundance. Results from a decade of satellite-derived ocean color images reveal the complex spatio-temporal patterns of ‘bio-clarification’ occurring in Lake Michigan. Mussel biomass was negatively correlated with phytoplankton concentrations and turbidity, but association was likely weakened by unmeasured variables such as nearshore runoff, patterns of plankton and nutrient dynamics, thermal structure and mixing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2018 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2018 - Proceedings
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages120-123
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781538671504
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 31 2018
Externally publishedYes
Event38th Annual IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2018 - Valencia, Spain
Duration: Jul 22 2018Jul 27 2018

Publication series

NameInternational Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)
Volume2018-July

Conference

Conference38th Annual IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2018
Country/TerritorySpain
CityValencia
Period7/22/187/27/18

Keywords

  • Dreissenid mussels
  • Lake Michigan
  • Phytoplankton bloom
  • Regime shift
  • Turbidity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science Applications
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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