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