The Global Lakes Ecological Observatory Network: merging
limnology and information technology to understand lake dynamics at
multiple scales
Tim Kratz, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USPeter Arzberger, University of California-San Diego, US
David Hamilton, University of Waikato, New ZealandFang-Pang Lin, National Center for High-Performance Computing,
Taiwan
Yuan Yang Lake, Taiwan ; photo by Matt Van de Bogert
http://gleon.org
The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON)• A grassroots network of
– lake scientists, engineers, information technology experts
– institutions and programs– instruments– data
• Linked by a common cyberinfrastructure• With a goal of understanding lake dynamics at
local, regional, continental, and global scales
Yuan Yang Lake, Taiwan ; photo by Matt Van de Bogert
gleon.org
Frequency of measurement
Spatial extent
Annual
100 km
Monthly Weekly Daily Hourly Min. Sec.
10 km
1 km
100 m
10 m
1 m
10 cm
Existing Sensor Networks
random selection from Ecology 2003
Science depends on inextricable link among questions, models, and
observations
Source: Porter, Arzberger,Hanson, Lin, Kratz, et al. Bioscience (2005)
Questions
Models Observations
Observations
senso
r
networks
Slide courtesy of Paul Hanson
GLEON’s MissionFacilitate interaction and build collaborations among an international, multidisciplinary community of researchers focused on understanding, predicting, and communicating the impact of natural and anthropogenic influences on lake ecosystems by developing, deploying, and using networks of emerging observational system technologies and associated cyberinfrastructure.
http://gleon.org
Some current issues in limnology amenable to “observatory”
approach
• Source, movement, and fate of carbon in lakes and watersheds
• Pelagic/littoral coupling
• Role of episodic events, thresholds, and non-linear dynamics
• Coupling of physical and biological processes
GLEON Activities
Share experience, expertise, and data
Catalyze joint projects Develop tools Conduct multi-site
training Create opportunities
for students Meet and
communicate regularly
Why Grassroots?
• Members decide the science agenda• Members initiate activities
– Leads to innovative science– Enhances collaborative science– Shortens lag time between ideas and
action
• Members share expertise and experience
• Allows flexibility
GLEON Sites
GLEON 1 San Diego USA
March 2005
GLEON 3 Hsinchu TW
October 2006
GLEON 4Lammi FI
March 2007
GLEON 2Townsville AUMarch 2006
Lake site
Cyber-support
site
The Current Model
Portable Lake Metabolism BuoyNorth Temperate Lakes LTER
WisconsinInstrumented Platforms
•make high frequency observations of key variables
•send data to web-accessible database in near real time
Northern Highland Lake District, WisconsinWireless Sensor Network – 900-915 MHz Ethernet
Base Station/InternetLake BuoyUSGS Gauging Station
Relay Tower
~5 km
Yuan-Yang Lake
( 湖) Ecosite
Source Fang-Pang Lin
Scalable instrumentation and cyberfrastructure is critical
We can do this scale nowhttp://lakemetabolism.org
Problematic, but possible with today’s cyberinfrastructure
Scale needed to answer regional/continental questions
Not currently possible
Data RepositoryNCHC: Taiwan
Data RepositoryWisconsin
ApplicationClient
Web Services•metabolism models•intelligent agents•data retrieval
Trout Bog Lake, Wisconsin
Yuan-Yang Lake, Taiwan The Future Model
Requires significant partnerships among•lake scientists•information managers•middleware developershttp://gleon.org
Tony FountainSameer TilakKen ChiuBarbara BensonPaul HansonLuke Winslowet al.
Planning the cyberinfrastructure
GLEON Lake Metadata Website
Dave BalsigerBarbara BensonJohn Byrne
12
14
16
18
20
22
22-Aug 23-Aug 24-Aug 25-Aug 26-Aug 27-Aug 28-Aug
Date
Wat
er T
emp
erat
ure
(°C
)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Pre
cip
ita
tio
n(m
m p
er 5
min
ute
in
terv
al)
Surface
0.5 meters
1 meter
1.5 meters
2 meters
2.5 meters
3 meters
Precipitation
Typhoon
Yuan Yang Lake, Taiwan – August 2004
Jeng-Wei Tsai presentation at 1600 Monday
An example of episodic events and threshold dynamicsAccess can be
difficult during the most interesting times
Photo by Peter Arzberger, October 2004
Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin, USA2005
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
9-Aug 10-Aug 11-Aug 12-Aug 13-Aug 14-Aug 15-Aug
Su
rfa
ce
Dis
so
lve
d O
xy
ge
n (
mg
/L)
Dissolved Oxygen
Crystal Bog Lake2006
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
3-Sep 4-Sep 5-Sep 6-Sep 7-Sep 8-Sep
Dis
solv
ed O
xyg
en (
mg
/L)
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
Su
rfac
e W
ater
Tem
per
atu
re (
C)
Dissolved OxygenWater Temperature
nightpeak
Lake Rotorua, NZ Surface Dissolved Oxygen
22-Sep-06 23-Sep-06 24-Sep-06 25-Sep-06 26-Sep-06 27-Sep-06 28-Sep-06
Date
Dis
solv
ed O
xyg
en (
mg
/L)
11.5
11.6
11.7
11.8
11.9
12
12.1
12.2
nightpeak
Lake Rotorua, NZ Surface Dissolved Oxygen
22-Sep-06 23-Sep-06 24-Sep-06 25-Sep-06 26-Sep-06 27-Sep-06 28-Sep-06
Date
Dis
solv
ed O
xyg
en (
mg
/L)
11.5
11.6
11.7
11.8
11.9
12
12.1
12.2
Diel O2 Dynamics
GLEON promotes discovery science
Hanson et al. at 1430, and Hu et al. at 1450, today
Steering Committee
• Lauri Arvola, Finland • Peter Arzberger, US• Thorsten Blenckner,
Sweden • Justin Brookes, Australia• David Hamilton, New
Zealand• Paul Hanson, US • Tim Kratz, US• Fang-Pang Lin, Taiwan• Ami Nishri, Israel• Boqiang Qin, China• Katherine Weathers, US
GLEON Governance
• Grassroots, member-driven
• Open to all who share GLEON vision
GLEON: Shared Vision
• Participation: contribute to GLEON mission• Openness: share experience and expertise• Data: share data as openly as possible• Informal: “flat” organization – “grassroots”• Transparent: open decision-making• Training: integration of students• Diversity: gender, geography, discipline
How do I become a member of GLEON?
• Agree to shared vision• Be nominated by two existing
members• Fill out form (soon to appear on
“gleon.org” website)
Please join us!!!
GLEON Activities at SIL• GLEON 5 Meeting
– Saturday, 0830-1800; Room 518C• Special Session on “The Use of High-
Frequency Data in Limnology”– Monday, 1100-1740; Room 518B– Tuesday, 1030-1510; Room 518B
• Graduate Student Gathering– Tuesday, 1715-1830; Room 518C
• Informal Social– Thursday, 1730 to 1900, at St. Sulpice, 1680
rue Saint-Denis
GLEON 6: February 12-14, 2008Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA