Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments (GLISA) links science, people, and information, bridging the gap between producers and users of scientific information. GLISA facilitates smart responses to climate variability and change. Learn more»

Resources

This site provides resources to: explore GLISA, learn about Great Lakes climate or connect to news and events, find research and grants, and get decision support tools.

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Great Lakes Evaporation Study Highlights Implications for Lake Levels

A GLISA Project Team reports that while ice cover affects evaporation, the reverse is true as well. Evaporation rates in the autumn also help determine the extent of winter ice cover.

The new findings point to a need for year-round monitoring of evaporation rates in the Great Lakes region.

Read about it in our newsletter or read the full report here.

 

View the 2013 Great Lakes Climate Symposium online!

The 2013 symposium was a huge success! Click here to watch the lectures and presentations.

The Great Lakes Climate Symposium 2013

November, 4 2013—1:30 to 5:00 p.m. Register Here

Theme: The Role of Boundary Organizations in Climate Adaptation

2013 Climate Assessment Grants Awarded

GLISA has awarded 4 one-year grants of up to $50,000 each to organizations that will work with GLISA to address the risks of climate change and variability in the Great Lakes basin. Organizations were chosen that can bring together stakeholders from specific communities to identify and promote understanding of the vulnerabilities, impacts, and potential for adaptation to climate change. GLISA will support these activities by identifying and providing relevant information about the historical climate, projected futures, and adaptation to potential impacts. Read project descriptions here »

New Climate Resource: Freezing Rain in the Great Lakes

GLISA participated in a winter climate adaptation project focused on Chicago, IL. Freezing rain events were identified as a weather hazard that are important to city planners and decision makers. As part of the project, GLISA researched how freezing rain events are expected to change in the future for the city. Although Chicago was the primary geographical focus of this research, most of the research is relevant to the Great Lakes region as a whole. Learn more »

May Newsletter: GLISA 2013 Climate Assessment Grants Competition, Mapping Climate Scenarios for Isle Royale, GLISA Participates in Inaugural National Adaptation Forum

GLISA seeks Letters of Interest for our Climate Assessment Grants Competition, summarizes climate mapping work on Isle Royale, and shares information about our participation in the National Adaptation Forum. Learn more »

GLISA 2013 Grants Competition: Call for Letters of Interest

This year, GLISA will award 3 to 4 one-year grants of up to $50,000 each to organizations that will work with GLISA to address the risks of climate change and variability in the Great Lakes basin. Organizations should submit a letter of interest by Friday, June 7, 2013. GLISA will evaluate these letters and invite some teams to submit full proposals.

Interested organizations are strongly encouraged to participate in a Q&A conference call, which will be held on Wednesday, May 22 at 11:00 a.m. EDT. To register for this call, visit the registration page.

For more information, please see the grants competition page. A PDF of proposal requirements and instructions is available here.

Webinar: Shared Solutions to Protect Shared Values: The National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy

The National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is the first nationwide strategy to help address the impacts of climate change upon natural resources and the people and economies that depend on them.

Join on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 2:00-4:00 pm hear about how this Strategy provides a unified approach for reducing the negative impacts of climate change anddiscuss key recommendations for safeguarding the nation’s fish, wildlife and plants in a changing climate.

You must register register to join this webinar.

February Newsletter: NCA Midwest Town Hall Event Summary, Detroit Vulnerability Assessment, & Prepping Small Communities for Climate Change

Read what you may have missed from the NCA Midwest Regional Town Hall Meeting and access presentation videos and PDFs. The Detroit Vulnerability Assessment and Sea Grant's work with small community climate adaptation strategies are also featured. Learn more »

National Climate Assessment: Midwest Regional Town Hall Meeting

GLISA invites you via live-stream on Tuesday February 12, 2013 from 8:30am-4:00pm to learn, discuss, share, and collaborate on the process and findings of the National Climate Assessment in the Midwest Region. All are welcome.

More information on the speakers, panelists, and discussion agenda is available here.
Learn more »

A Community Conversation on Climate Event

GLISA will be supporting a community conversation about climate change resiliency and adaptation.

The evening event, hosted the by Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, MSU Extension, Two Rivers Coalition, and Michigan Works!, will take place on February 27th, 6-8pm in Benton Harbor, Michigan. All are welcome to attend and share how climate has impacted you or your community. See the flyer for more information.
Learn more »

January edition of GLISA CONNECT

GLISA's first newsletter of the year showcases the Great Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities, the creation of climate resilient communities in the Huron River Watershed, and the Mid-Michigan Heat Model Project Brief. Learn more »

Third National Climate Assessment Draft Report

The 3rd National Climate Assessment Draft Report is available for download and review until April 12. The GLISA Community is invited to review and provide feedback to this document. Chapter 18 (Midwest) includes much of the Great Lakes basin and was co-authored by GLISA Co-director Don Scavia. Learn more »

Reports Now Available from the Midwest Technical Input Team to the National Climate Assessment

At the request of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments Center (GLISA) and the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment assembled a team of leading experts to review the current and potential impacts of climate change in the Midwestern U.S across various sectors.

Report sectors include:

• Historical Climate and Future Climate
• Coastal Systems and Water Resources
• Transportation and Energy
• Forestry and Agriculture
• Biodiveristy and Tourism and Recreation

Read the reports »

Project Brief: The Mid-Michigan Heat Model

Global and regional climate change models have projected an increase in the frequency, duration and severity of extreme heat events in the upper Midwest. This project brief examines the dynamics of human health during extreme heat events, presented in a format that is useful for local decision-makers. This project was funded by GLISA through a 2011 Great Lakes Climate Assessment Grant. Learn more »

GLISA-Funded Project Is Featured Case Study

Abby Lynch's 2011 GLISA-funded project is the "Featured Case Study" on the Climate Adapatation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) website. The project, Designing a Decision Support System for Harvest Management of Great Lakes Lake Whitefish in a Changing Climate, was funded in 2011 to assess decision support tools for Great Lakes lake whitefish management in the context of climate change. Learn more »

New Univ. of Michigan Great Lakes Research and Education Center

A new $9 million U-M Great Lakes research and education center will guide efforts to protect and restore the world's largest group of freshwater lakes by reducing toxic contamination, combating invasive species, protecting wildlife habitat and promoting coastal health. GLISA Primary Investigator Don Scavia will help administer the new center. Learn more »

Drought Hits Michigan Dairy Farmers

The 2012 drought brought low crop yields and high prices to dairy farmers across the state of Michigan, impacting herd size and profitability. Learn more »

Climate Change, Lake Erie, and Increased Algal Blooms

GLISA Primary Investigator and aquatic ecologist Don Scavia reports on the impact of climate change on increased algae blooms and dead zones in Lake Erie. Learn more »

Public Understanding of Climate Change Risks and Choices

The Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan and the Union of Concerned Scientists gathered 90 leading scholars, business leaders, policy makers, advocates, religious leaders and journalists to explore how better to communicate climate science to a skeptical public and mobilize progress. Learn more »

Climate Modeling 101

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate has released Climate Modeling 101, a website designed to help the public learn more about the basics of climate modeling--how they work and why they are important. The site features short videos and animations that explain everything from the difference between climate and weather to how climate models are built and verified. Learn more »

Great Lakes Buildings Must Be Climate Resilient

A new report from the U.S. Green Building Council instructs building designers to consider recent climate trends in and implement "no-regret" strategies, reports NPR. Learn more »