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Research Regions

Great Lakes

NOAA aims to engage and inform interested and impacted communities in the Great Lakes. With limited research and robust monitoring on acidification in the Great Lakes, researchers establish monitoring networks, study biological sensitivities and develop predictive models. 

Understanding and addressing acidification impacts

The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system on Earth, holding 95% of the U.S.’ and 20% of the world’s surface freshwater. The Great Lakes Region includes Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Acidification in the Great Lakes Region is predicted to occur at a rate similar to the oceans. In the Great Lakes, acidity is also influenced seasonally and spatially by local primary productivity and historical impacts from acid deposition associated with poor air quality. This region supports culturally and economically significant world class fisheries producing $7B in annual economic value, and recreational tourism that create significant income for the regional and U.S. economy. Compared to ocean and marine coastal acidification, little past effort has been invested in monitoring or understanding potential effects of acidification in the Great Lakes and impacts to surrounding communities.

Buoy in the ocean with the sunset reflecting in water
View FULL Research Plan (PDF)

Tracking progress of acidification research in the Great Lakes

Map of North America highlighting the Great Lakes region
The Great Lakes Region includes Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario

The research goals in the Great Lakes Region are to:

  • Establish a monitoring network that is designed to detect trends in pH and carbonate saturation states, taking into account the considerable spatial and temporal variability
  • Conduct research to understand the sensitivity of plankton, fish, invasive mussels and other biota to changes in pH and carbonate saturation states, including early life stages
  • Develop physical/biogeochemical and food-web models that can project the impacts of changing pH and carbonate saturation states on important ecological endpoints, including plankton community composition and productivity, nuisance and harmful algae, invasive mussels, and fish
  • Engage people and industries in the process of evaluating impacts in order to identify research topics, communicate research findings, and develop mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The following charts represent the mid-point progress in implementing research actions that focus on the Great Lakes Region according to the NOAA Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Acidification Research Plan.

NOAA invests in research and activities toward meeting goals that improve our ability to understand and predict environmental change, species and ecosystem to response to changing water chemistry, and the human impacts of these changes. The report card below summarizes progress over the past five years toward meeting these goals for the Great Lakes Region, measured by the number of major actions toward meeting this goal: good progress (4+ actions), some progress (1-3 actions) and no known progress.

Good overall progress

Some progress

No known progress

Environmental Change

There are two environmental change actions: one has good overall progress and one has made some progress.

Biological Sensisitivity

There are eight biological sensitivity actions: six have made some progress and two have no known progress.

Human Dimensions

There are two human dimension actions: one has made some progress and one has no known progress.

Featured Research Projects

Environmental Change
High Quality Monitoring in the Great Lakes
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Biological Sensitivity
Potential Acidification Effects on Great Lakes Harmful Algal Blooms
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Human Dimensions
Ocean Acidification Risks to Maritime Heritage Resources
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OAP Funded Projects

Lake Superior as seen from space in fall. Orange and red colors are from fall foliage. Credit: NOAA GLERL CoastWatch node
Measurement and Modeling of Processes Controlling acidification in the Great Lakes
  • PI(s): Noel Urban, Michigan Technological University
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2025, 2026, 2027
  • Grant Award # NA24OARX017G0022-T1-01
The project increases new monitoring and modeling capacity in the Great Lakes to assess the extent of acidification or potential future acidification...
Project Summary >
Freshwater acidification monitoring in Great Lakes National Marine Sanctuaries
  • PI(s): Reagan Errera
  • Fiscal Year Funded: 2024, 2025, 2026
This project establishes baseline monitoring of the carbonate system in the Great Lakes...
Project Summary >
View More Projects

Latest Publications

Ocean acidification thresholds for decapods are unresolved
Citation: McElhany, P. a. S. B. (2024). Ocean acidification thresholds for decapods are unresolved. Front. Mar. Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1449345
Read Summary >
Site-Specific Multiple Stressor Assessments Based on High Frequency Surface Observations and an Earth System Model
  • Elise M. B. Olson, Jasmin G. John, John P. Dunne, Charles Stock, Elizabeth J. Drenkard, Adrienne J. Sutton
  • Earth and Space Science
  • July 22, 2024
Citation: Olson, E. M. B., John, J. G., Dunne, J. P., Stock, C., Drenkard, E. J., & Sutton, A. J. (2024). Site-specific multiple stressor assessments based on high frequency surface observations and an Earth system model. Earth and Space Science, 11, e2023EA003357. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003357
Read Summary >
Emerging Applications of Longstanding Autonomous Ocean Carbon Observations
  • Adrienne J. Sutton and Christopher L. Sabine
  • Oceanography
  • October 30, 2023
Citation: Sutton, A.J., and C.L. Sabine. 2023. Emerging applications of longstanding autonomous ocean carbon observations. Oceanography 36(2–3):148–155, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2023.209.
PMEL air-sea CO2 and ocean acidification time series funded by GOMO and OAP. PMEL contribution 5476
Read Summary >
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Get involved with ocean acidification

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program exists to meet the ocean acidification research and monitoring needs of the U.S. See how you can get involved to serve your community and participate in cutting-edge research and education and outreach. 

Get involved

High Quality Monitoring in the Great Lakes

Deploying a buoy in Thunderbay
Image credit: NOAA GLERL

The Great Lakes ecosystem provides over 1.3 million jobs and $82 billion in wages the U.S. Blue Economy. In order to support a healthy, productive and resilient Great Lakes ecosystem the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS), with partners at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) established the first monitoring network focused on freshwater acidification in the U.S. Great Lakes. Sites established in Lake Huron will provide baseline measurements and start a long-term record for tracking freshwater acidification and climate impacts. While water quality monitoring is extensive and long-term in the Great Lakes, this project fills the gap for carbonate system and carbonate chemistry monitoring that has been largely neglected.

See real-time monitoring data here for this project, supported by GLERL, NMS and OAP.

Potential Acidification Effects on Great Lakes Harmful Algal Blooms

Harmful Algal Bloom in Lake Erie
Image credit: NOAA GLERL

Acidification, warming and shifts in alkalinity and nutrient availability dramatically alter aquatic systems and lead to changes in phytoplankton. Of particular concern in the Great Lakes are cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms (cHABs), which have had significant impacts in the region over the past five years. Past effort has undersampled and largely ignored acidification and understanding its potential impacts on the ecosystem. This project fills these gaps by determining the effects of acidification, temperature, total alkalinity and nitrogen on cyanobacteria growth, physiology, genetic underpinnings and toxicity. Using genetic and paleolimnology approaches, researchers connect historical trends of phytoplankton and environmental conditions. This project has been supported by OAP and NCCOS.

Ocean Acidification Risks to Maritime Heritage Resources

Shipwreck in Thunderbay
Image credit: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

The Great Lakes system is one of the most rapidly changing ecosystems. Maritime heritage resources within sanctuaries may be threatened by increased acidification and changing conditions. The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and partners at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) and Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary (WSCNMS) established and maintain a freshwater acidification monitoring network to inform potential risk to these cultural resources. It addresses critical lack of data concerning acidification in the Great Lakes and impacts to natural and maritime heritage resources within the sanctuary system. The approach and procedures will provide a monitoring framework for the region. This effort is supported by OAP.

Bioeconomic modeling to inform Alaska fisheries management

Fishing Dock in Juneau Alaska
Image credit: Allen Shimada, NOAA NMFS

Bioeconomic models are a multidisciplinary tool that use oceanography, fisheries science and social science to assess socioeconomic impacts. Funded by the Ocean Acidification Program, researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center use a bioeconomic model to study the impacts of ocean acidification on Eastern Bering Sea crab, northern rock sole and Alaska cod. The goal is to predict how ocean acidification will affect abundance yields and income generated by the fisheries. This work informs the potential economic impacts of ocean acidification and future decision making and research planning.

More about this work

Effects of ocean acidification and temperature on Alaskan crabs

Red King Crab
Image credit: David Csepp, NMFS AKFSC ABL

Long-term declines of red king crab in Bristol Bay, Alaska may be partially attributed to ocean acidification conditions. These impacts may be partially responsible for the fishery closures during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons. Researchers found that ocean acidification negatively impacts Alaskan crabs generally by changing physiological processes, decreasing growth, increasing death rates and reducing shell thickness. Funded by the Ocean Acidification Program, scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center continue to investigate the responses of early life history stages and study the potential of various Alaska crabs to acclimate to changing conditions. Results will inform models that will use the parameters studied to predict the effects of future ocean acidification on the populations of red king crab in Bristol Bay as well as on the fisheries that depend on them. Fishery managers will better be able to anticipate and manage stocks if changing ocean chemistry affects stock productivity and thus the maximum sustainable yield.

More about this work

Forecasts for Alaska Fisheries

Crab pots and fishing nets in Alaska's Dutch Harbor
Image credit: Michael Theberge

Understanding seasonal changes in ocean acidification in Alaskan waters and the potential impacts to the multi-billion-dollar fishery sector is a main priority. Through work funded by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory developed a model capable of depicting past ocean chemistry conditions for the Bering Sea and is now testing the ability of this model to forecast future conditions. This model is being used to develop an ocean acidification indicator provided to fisheries managers in the annual NOAA Eastern Bering Sea Ecosystem Status Report.

ADAPTING TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) works to prepare society to adapt to the consequences of ocean acidification and conserve marine ecosystems as acidification occurs. Learn more about the human connections and adaptation strategies from these efforts.

Adaptation approaches fostered by the OAP include:

FORECASTING

Using models and research to understand the sensitivity of organisms and ecosystems to ocean acidification to make predictions about the future, allowing communities and industries to prepare

Closeup of oysters cupped in someone's hands

MANAGEMENT

Using these models and predictions as tools to facilitate management strategies that will protect marine resources and communities from future changes

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Developing innovative tools to help monitor ocean acidification and mitigate changing ocean chemistry locally

REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

50 more ways to reduce your carbon footprint >

On the Road

Drive fuel-efficient vehicles or choose public transportation. Choose your bike or walk! Don't sit idle for more than 30 seconds. Keep your tires properly inflated.

With your Food Choices

Eat local- this helps cut down on production and transport! Reduce your meat and dairy. Compost to avoid food waste ending up in the landfill

With your Food Choices

Make energy-efficient choices for your appliances and lighting. Heat and cool efficiently! Change your air filters and program your thermostat, seal and insulate your home, and support clean energy sources

By Reducing Coastal Acidification

Reduce your use of fertilizers, Improve sewage treatment and run off, and Protect and restore coastal habitats

TAKE ACTION WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

You've taken the first step to learn more about ocean acidification - why not spread this knowledge to your community?

Every community has their unique culture, economy and ecology and what’s at stake from ocean acidification may be different depending on where you live.  As a community member, you can take a larger role in educating the public about ocean acidification. Creating awareness is the first step to taking action.  As communities gain traction, neighboring regions that share marine resources can build larger coalitions to address ocean acidification.  Here are some ideas to get started:

  1. Work with informal educators, such as aquarium outreach programs and local non-profits, to teach the public about ocean acidification. Visit our Education & Outreach page to find the newest tools!
  2. Participate in habitat restoration efforts to restore habitats that help mitigate the effects of coastal acidification
  3. Facilitate conversations with local businesses that might be affected by ocean acidification, building a plan for the future.
  4. Partner with local community efforts to mitigate the driver behind ocean acidification  – excess CO2 – such as community supported agriculture, bike & car shares and other public transportation options.
  5. Contact your regional Coastal Acidification Network (CAN) to learn how OA is affecting your region and more ideas about how you can get involved in your community
       More for Taking Community Action