Dataset: Lake Erie Winter Surveys 2023-2024
Deployment: GR-2024-02

Winter survey data from Lake Erie from Mar 2023 to May 2024

View Data: For data, See Dataset Metadata Page: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/940112

Principal Investigator:

Robert Michael McKay (University of Windsor)

Co-Principal Investigator:

George S. Bullerjahn (Bowling Green State University, BGSU)

Scientist:

Neve C Hudson (University of Windsor)

Student:

Neve C Hudson (University of Windsor)

Contact:

Geoffrey DeLorie (United States Coast Guard, USCG)

Brian Gresham (United States Coast Guard, USCG)

Taylor Peace (United States Coast Guard, USCG)

James Zittel (United States Coast Guard, USCG)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Audrey Mickle (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Project:

Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health (Great Lakes Center)

Version:

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Description

Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health

The Lake Erie Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health is a five-year, multi-institutional effort aimed at understanding the environmental factors and ongoing changes that influence the growth and toxicity of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) in Lake Erie. The Center will support three research projects. Specifically these projects address the following aims: first, how environmental cues promote or constrain the proliferation of cHAB species in mixed populations; second, how environmental cues influence toxin production by cHAB species; third, how other member of the microbial assemblage influence cHAB growth and toxicity. The Center will provide a Community Engagement Core to lead outreach activities that will inform the general public on the effects of cHABs by efforts that include: (1) a community engaged scholarship training for scientists associated with the Center, (2) community-engaged scholarship training for practitioners or community members associated with the Center, and (3) a stakeholder needs assessment for Great Lakes and environmental health literacy to inform general outreach information needs. A citizen science engagement with charter boat captains will further develop a near real-time database on cHAB severity in Lake Erie, and the Facilities Core will provide metadata that not only serve the three stated research projects, but also yield a database available to all Great Lakes scientists. The outcomes are to involve community stakeholders and researchers in the Great Lakes on issues regarding human health, climate change and awareness of threats to our fresh water resources.

Methods & Sampling

Dataset acquisition description

The vessel will come to a stop when the predetermined sampling station is reached, at a time decided on by the ship's command. The location and time of sampling will be recorded, as well as the environmental conditions. The trained crew members of the vessel will then use a YSI water quality sonde to collect data and that will be recorded. A Secchi disc with measurement indicators every 10 centimeters will then be deployed and recordings will be taken on both the upcast and downcast. A Van Dorn water sampler will then be used to collect water at a depth of 1 meter. Water samples are then transferred to 1 L polyethylene storage bottles or 2 L plastic storage bottles, and stored in a dark place at 4 ^oC until picked up by personnel on the same day. The samples will then be transported in coolers containing ice packs to Bowling Green State University (BGSU). Samples were also collected from Sandpoint Beach and Mitchell's Bay locations using the same methods and observational conventions.

Sub-samples for chlorophyll a will be taken at BGSU using 0.4 um polycarbonate membranes and a vacuum filtration system. The filter will be placed in a screw cap polyethylene centrifuge tube and stored in a dark freezer until extraction. The samples will be extracted using 90% acetone and kept at -20 ^oC for 24 hours, and chlorophyll will be measured using a TD-700 fluorometer (Welschmeyer, 1994).

Total and dissolved nutrient samples will be held in acid-washed 250 mL polyethylene bottles, and stored in a dark freezer at -20 ^oC until they are ready to be analyzed. Dissolved nutrient sub-samples will be taken by filtering the agitated sampled water through 0.22 um filters. The data will then be shipped to the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University (Tiffin, OH).

Data Processing Description

Dataset Processing Description

The meteorological data was taken directly from readings using vessel instruments, marine forecasts, and expert observations. The physico-chemical data was obtained using a YSI 600QS multiparameter sonde, and nutrient concentrations were analyzed at the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University. Fluorometric classification of phytoplankton was measured using a FluoroProbe (bbe Moldaenke GmbH, Schwentinental, Germany), and plankton taxonomic classification and cell enumeration was conducted by Aquatic Taxonomy Specialists (Malinta, OH). The extractive chlorophyll was read using a TD-700 Fluorometer (Turner Designs Inc., San Jose, CA), the sample concentrations were then calculated with the equation below, and the averages for each site were calculated from the triplicate samples.

Chla = ((reading*volume_extracted)/volume_filtered)* dilution factor

More information about this dataset deployment

Funding

Award Number	Funding Source
OCE-1840715	NSF Division of Ocean Sciences

Instruments

Bottle

Supplied Name: Sample bottles, 1 or 2 L (Nalgene or equivalent), Plastic wash bottle, 500 mL

Supplied Description:

Water samples are then transferred to 1 L polyethylene storage bottles or 2 L plastic storage bottles, and stored in a dark place at 4 ^oC until picked up by personnel on the same day.

Total and dissolved nutrient samples will be held in acid-washed 250 mL polyethylene bottles, and stored in a dark freezer at -20 ^oC until they are ready to be analyzed.

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Bottle

Generic Description:

A container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for storing drinks or other liquids.

Fluorometer

Supplied Name: FluoroProbe

Supplied Description:

Fluorometric classification of phytoplankton was measured using a FluoroProbe (bbe Moldaenke GmbH, Schwentinental, Germany), and plankton taxonomic classification and cell enumeration was conducted by Aquatic Taxonomy Specialists (Malinta, OH).

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Fluorometer

Community Identifier: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L05/current/113/

Generic Description:

A fluorometer or fluorimeter is a device used to measure parameters of fluorescence: its intensity and wavelength distribution of emission spectrum after excitation by a certain spectrum of light. The instrument is designed to measure the amount of stimulated electromagnetic radiation produced by pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted into a water sample or in situ.

Nutrient Autoanalyzer

Supplied Name: National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University

Supplied Description:

Total and dissolved nutrient samples will be held in acid-washed 250 mL polyethylene bottles, and stored in a dark freezer at -20 oC until they are ready to be analyzed. Dissolved nutrient sub-samples will be taken by filtering the agitated sampled water through 0.22 um filters. The data will then be shipped to the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University (Tiffin, OH).

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Nutrient Autoanalyzer

Community Identifier: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L05/current/LAB04/

Generic Description:

Nutrient Autoanalyzer is a generic term used when specific type, make and model were not specified. In general, a Nutrient Autoanalyzer is an automated flow-thru system for doing nutrient analysis (nitrate, ammonium, orthophosphate, and silicate) on seawater samples.

Secchi Disc

Supplied Name: Secchi disc

Supplied Description:

A Secchi disc with measurement indicators every 10 centimeters will then be deployed and recordings will be taken on both the upcast and downcast.

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Secchi Disc

Community Identifier: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L22/current/TOOL0430/

Generic Description:

Typically, a 16 inch diameter white/black quadrant disc used to measure water optical clarity

Turner Designs 700 Laboratory Fluorometer

Supplied Name: TD-700 fluorometer

Supplied Description:

The extractive chlorophyll was read using a TD-700 Fluorometer (Turner Designs Inc., San Jose, CA), the sample concentrations were then calculated with the equation below, and the averages for each site were calculated from the triplicate samples.

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Turner Designs 700 Laboratory Fluorometer

Acronym: TD-700

Community Identifier: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L22/current/TOOL0510/

Generic Description:

The TD-700 Laboratory Fluorometer is a benchtop fluorometer designed to detect fluorescence over the UV to red range. The instrument can measure concentrations of a variety of compounds, including chlorophyll-a and fluorescent dyes, and is thus suitable for a range of applications, including chlorophyll, water quality monitoring and fluorescent tracer studies. Data can be output as concentrations or raw fluorescence measurements.

vacuum manifold

Supplied Name: Vacuum manifold system to accommodate 3 filter funnels

Supplied Description:

Vacuum manifold system to accommodate 3 filter funnels

Instrument Type

Generic Name: vacuum manifold

Generic Description:

A device that is used for the vacuum-driven processing of multiwell strips or plates, or spin columns.

Van Dorn water sampler

Supplied Name: 2 L Van Dorn water sampler

Supplied Description:

A Van Dorn water sampler will then be used to collect water at a depth of 1 meter.

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Van Dorn water sampler

Generic Description:

A free-flushing water sample bottle comprising a cylinder (polycarbonate, acrylic or PVC) with a stopper at each end. The bottle is closed by means of a messenger from the surface releasing the tension on a latex band and thus pulling the two stoppers firmly into place. A thermometer can be mounted inside the bottle. One or more bottles can be lowered on a line to allow sampling at a single or multiple depth levels. Van Dorn samplers are suitable for for physical (temperature), chemical and biological sampling in shallow to very deep water. Bottles are typically lowered vertically through the water column although a horizontal version is available for sampling near the seabed or at thermoclines or chemoclines. Because of the lack of metal parts the bottles are suitable for trace metal sampling, although the blue polyurethane seal used in the Alpha version may leach mercury. The Beta version uses white ASA plastic seals that do not leach mercury but are less durable.

YSI Sonde 6-Series

Supplied Name: YSI 600QS multiparameter sonde

Supplied Description:

The physico-chemical data was obtained using a YSI 600QS multiparameter sonde, and nutrient concentrations were analyzed at the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University.

Instrument Type

Generic Name: YSI Sonde 6-Series

Community Identifier: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L22/current/TOOL0737/

Generic Description:

YSI 6-Series water quality sondes and sensors are instruments for environmental monitoring and long-term deployments. YSI datasondes accept multiple water quality sensors (i.e., they are multiparameter sondes). Sondes can measure temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, depth, turbidity, and other water quality parameters. The 6-Series includes several models. More from YSI.

Parameters

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
Station	Station of sample collection	unitless	station
Deployment	Cruise ID	unitless	cruise_id
Alternate_Deployment	Alternate cruise descriptions	unitless	cruise_name
Date	Date of sample collection in Y-m-d format	unitless	date
Time	Time of survey (EST); format: hh:mm	unitless	time
ISO_DateTime_UTC	Date and time of survey (UTC) formatted to ISO8601 standard: YYYY-MM-DDThh:mmZ	unitless	ISO_DateTime_UTC
Lake	The name of the lake the sample was collected from.	unitless	site
Lat	Latitude of sample collection; positive values = North	decimal degrees	lat
Long	Longitude of sample collection; positive values = East	decimal degrees	lon
Max_Depth	Maximum depth of water	meters (m)	depth_w
Sample_Depth	Depth of sample collection	meters (m)	depth
Air_Temp	Air temperature	degrees C	temp_air
Water_Temp	Water temperature	degrees C	temp
Ice_cover	Percent ice cover around sampling area	percent (%)	ice_cover
Snow_cover	Percent snow cover on ice around sampling area	percent (%)	snow_cover
Ice_type	Ice type	unitless	ice_cover_type
Ice_thickness	Thickness of ice	centimeter (cm)	ice_thickness
DO	Dissolved oxygen percent	percent (%)	O2
DO2	Dissolved mg of oxygen per litre of water	mg/L	O2
pH	pH	unitless (pH scale)	pH
Sp_Cond	Specific conductance; Electrical conductivity of a water	microSiemen per cm (µS cm-1)	specc
Secchi	Average from upcast and downcast readings; measure of water transparency	meters (m)	depth_secchi
Cloud_cover	Percentage of cloud cover	percent (%)	cloud_pct
Wind	Wind speed in knots	Knots (Kt)	wind_speed_kts
Wind2	Wind direction in cardinal (compass) directions	unitless	weather
Wind3	Wind direction in degrees	degree	wind_dir
Barometer	Barometric pressure	millibars (Mb)	press_bar
Sea_state	Wave height	meters (m)	wave_height
Weather	Weather observations during sample collection	unitless	weather
Avg_Chl_a	Average extracted chlorophyll	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	chl_a
NH3	Dissolved nutrients: Ammonia	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	NH3
CL	Dissolved nutrients: chloride	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	Cl
SO4	Dissolved nutrients: sulphate	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	SO4
NO2	Dissolved nutrients: Nitrite	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	NO2
NO3	Dissolved nutrients: Nitrate	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	NO3
SIO2	Dissolved nutrients: silica	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	silica
SRP	Dissolved nutrients: Soluble Reactive Phosphorus	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	SRP
Total_Phosphorus	Particulate nutrients: Total Phosphorus	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	P
Total_Nitrogen	Particulate nutrients: Total Nitrogen	microgram per liter (µg L-1)	NH3
Avg_Green_Algae	Higher level taxonomic cell abundance: Green algae (Fluoroprobe)	ug/L	abundance
Avg_Bluegreen	Higher level taxonomic cell abundance: Bluegreen algae (Fluoroprobe)	ug/L	abundance
Avg_Diatoms	Higher level taxonomic cell abundance: Diatoms (Fluoroprobe)	ug/L	abundance
Avg_Cryptophyta	Higher level taxonomic cell abundance: Cryptophyta (Fluoroprobe)	ug/L	abundance
Avg_Yellow_Substances	Average Humic acid	relative units (r.u.)	abundance
Avg_Total_Conc	Total cell concentration (Fluoroprobe)	ug/L	abundance
Avg_Transmission	Average Fluoroprobe light transmission	percent (%)	trans
Aulacoseira_islandica	Cell abundance: Aulacoseira islandica	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
Stephanodiscus_spp	Cell abundance: Stephanodiscus spp.	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
Fragilaria_spp	Cell abundance: Fragilaria spp.	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
Skeletonema_spp	Cell abundance: Skeletonema_spp	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
centric_small	Cell abundance: centric (small)	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
Nitzschia	Cell abundance: Nitzschia	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
Asterionella	Cell abundance: Asterionella	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
Cyanobacteria	Cell abundance: Cyanobacteria	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
cryptomonads	Cell abundance: cryptomonads	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
Dinoflagellates	Cell abundance: Dinoflagellates	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
chlorophytes	Cell abundance: chlorophytes	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance
Microflagellates	Cell abundance: Microflagellates	Cells per milliliter (cells/mL)	abundance

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: Lake Erie Winter Surveys 2023-2024
Deployment: GR-2024-02

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: Lake Erie Winter Surveys 2023-2024Deployment: GR-2024-02

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Dataset: Lake Erie Winter Surveys 2023-2024
Deployment: GR-2024-02