{"id":18927,"date":"2025-02-25T19:29:48","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T19:29:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=18927"},"modified":"2025-02-26T16:16:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T16:16:24","slug":"new-study-unveils-climate-change-effects-on-24000-us-lakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/new-study-unveils-climate-change-effects-on-24000-us-lakes\/","title":{"rendered":"New Study Unveils Climate Change Effects on 24,000 US Lakes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study led by Michigan State University researchers utilizes satellite data and machine learning to explore how climate change and human activities impact algal blooms in 24,000 U.S. lakes, providing vital insights for environmental management.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A recent study led by researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) offers new insights into the intricate relationship between climate change and algal blooms in 24,000 freshwater lakes across the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using open-access data and novel analytical methods, the study elucidates how climate interacts with human activities to affect these critical ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Complex Interactions Unveiled<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each summer, lake beaches are increasingly closed due to the menace of toxic algal blooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While climate change is often perceived as the primary culprit, this study reveals a more nuanced scenario where climate and human activities, such as agriculture and urban runoff, collectively influence the proliferation of these blooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur research demonstrates that the relationship between climate change and algal biomass is more complex than previously understood,\u201d co-lead author Patricia Soranno, a professor in the MSU College of Natural Science, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/msutoday.msu.edu\/news\/2025\/msu-researchers-use-open-access-data-to-study-climate-change-effects-in-24000-us-lakes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>. \u201cWhile climate change is a significant driver in algal biomass, we found that the impacts are not always gradual or predictable. To effectively manage and protect lakes, we need to study these effects in many different local and regional contexts.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Innovative Methods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The MSU team, led by Soranno and Patrick Hanly, a quantitative ecologist in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, utilized over three decades of publicly available satellite imagery alongside machine learning techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This approach generated an unprecedented dataset that tracks chlorophyll levels \u2014 a key indicator of algal biomass \u2014 in 24,452 lakes across the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The comprehensive dataset was paired with LAGOS-US, a geospatial research platform detailing lake features in the United States. This integration allowed the researchers to uncover climate-related patterns in algal biomass and probe their changes over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Significant Findings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.2416172122\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, disclosed that climate-driven changes in algal biomass were evident in 34% of the lakes studied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the responses were diverse: only 13% of affected lakes experienced long-lasting regime shifts, 4% showed increased productivity and 71% exhibited abrupt but temporary changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although these temporary changes can seem reassuring, the annual fluctuations they represent have historically been understudied, leading to gaps in understanding climate\u2019s impact on water quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Variability and Human Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This large-scale analysis also highlighted how variation in climate responses depends on environmental conditions and the extent of human disturbances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lakes with low to moderate human impact showed higher climate responsiveness, while those already heavily impacted by activities like agriculture were less directly influenced by climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur findings emphasize the importance of considering both climate and other measures of human impacts when assessing the health of lakes, especially over decades,\u201d added co-author Spence Cheruveli, the dean of MSU\u2019s\u00a0Lyman Briggs College. \u201cThis research provides a crucial foundation for developing effective strategies to mitigate the impacts of these stressors and protect the valuable resources that lakes provide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Broader Implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MSU&#8217;s findings hold significant implications for environmental management practices. By demonstrating the complex interactions between climate and human activities, this study underscores the necessity for holistic approaches to manage and preserve freshwater lakes amidst climate change.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A recent study led by researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) offers new insights into the intricate relationship between climate change and algal blooms in 24,000 freshwater lakes across the United States. Using open-access data and novel analytical methods, the study elucidates how climate interacts with human activities to affect these critical ecosystems. Complex Interactions [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[35],"class_list":["post-18927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment","tag-michigan-state-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A recent study led by researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) offers new insights into the intricate relationship between climate change and algal blooms in 24,000 freshwater lakes across the United States. Using open-access data and novel analytical methods, the study elucidates how climate interacts with human activities to affect these critical ecosystems. Complex Interactions&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18927"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18955,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18927\/revisions\/18955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}