GREAT LAKES 

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY 

ANNUAL REPORT FY 1985 

December 1985 

Eugene J. Aubert, Director 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 

Environmental Research Laboratories 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory 

2300 Washtenaw Avenue 

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 
NOTICE 

Mention of a commercial company or product does not 

constitute an endorsement by NOAAIERL. Use for 

publicity or advertising purposes, of information from 

this publication concerning proprietary products or the 

tests of such products, is not authorized. 
Table of Contents 

Page 

Highlights ................................... 1 

Introduction ................................. 5 

Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics .......... 7 

Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics ................ 13 

Lake Hydrology ............................... 20 

Physical Limnology and Meteorology .............. 26 

Environmental Systems Studies ................... 32 

Information Services ........................... 36 

Facilities .................................... 38 

Permanent Staff .............................. 41 

Publications ................................. 42 

Presentations ................................. 45 

Contracts and Grants ......................... 48 

Front Cover: Water levels on the Great Lakes have been in a high regime for the past 

fifteen years. resulting in flooding around the perimeter and extensive damage due to 

shore erosion. especially during storms . 
LAKE HYDROLOGY I GROUP I ( F. H. Quinn, Head I 

D LABORATORY 

UBRARY '0 

CLERL Organization Chart 

ADMINISTRATION I-X,?%LJ COMPUTER FAClUTY [-I 

S. V. Mark, Head G. E. Spalding, Head D, F. id, ~~~d 

1 I f SYNTHETIC ORGANICS 1) f ECOSYSTEM and 7 (PHYSICAL UMNOLOGY I ( ENVIRONMENTAL 1 

and PLIRTICLE DYNAMICS NUTRIENT L~YNAMIcs 1 1 d MEET","pOWGY 1 1 SYSTEMS STUDIES ( GROUP I ( GROUP GROUP I 

8. J. Eadie, Head T. D. Fontaine. Head 

LABORATORIES INSTRUMENTATION 

LABORATORY 

- { CHEMISTRY 1 ) LABORATORIES 
Highlights 

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory 

(GLERL) has completed its eleventh year conducting 

research on significant environmental processes and 

problems in the Great Lakes region. Research is carried 

out by five groups with expertise ranging from aquatic 

chemistry and biology to physics, hydrology, and computer modeling. GLERL's projects are interdisciplinary 

and integrated where feasible, to maximize utilization of 

operational resources in support of NOAA's Ocean and 

Great Lakes Prediction Research Program. GLERL is also 

taking part in the Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study (UGLCCS), a multi-agency joint United StatesCanada study of water quality and ecosystem dynamics 

in Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers. The 

products of GLERL research are used by government, 

educational, and private organizations to facilitate planning and improve decision making in relation to water 

resources management and environmental services in 

coastal and estuarine waters, especially the Great Lakes. 

GLERL's products are disseminated as technical publications, brochures, posters, and by presentations at scientific and public meetings. During FY 1985, 69 scientific 

articles, reports, and books were published and 85 talks 

were presented by GLERL staff at scientific or public 

meetings. 

Research 

The Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics 

Group focuses on research to improve our understanding of the processes that control the movements and fates 

of trace contaminants, especially the synthetic organics, 

in the Great lakes and coastal marine ecosystems. During FY 1985: 

Hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOC) were 

found to associate with (e.g., partition to) a spectrum 

of dissolved materials, including dissolved organic 

matter and extremely fine particles that are "operational ly" defined as being dissolved. Such partitioning 

significantly reduces the entry of these contaminants 

into the food chain in the Great Lakes. 

The partitioning of HOC in the Great Lakes between 

dissolved and particulate substrates was shown to 

undergo complicated seasonal variations that are 

compound dependent. The introduction of timevariable phase partition coefficients in GLERL's 

contaminant-fate model indicated that such seasonal 

variability could significantly affect the concentration 

of HOC predicted to remain in the water column. 

Field work for a seasonal mass flux study in Lakes 

Superior, Huron, and Michigan was completed with 

the final retrieval of long-term sediment trap moorings. The resu Its revealed a significant increase in 

mass flux during the unstratified winter period in the 

Great Lakes, primarily due to resuspension of bottom 

sediments. The reintroduction of PCBs and phosphorus by resuspension was shown to equal the sum 

total of all other known inputs of these materials. The 

combination of resuspension and bioturbation (stirring of the upper sediments by organisms) thus 

appears to buffer the lake environment against 

responding rapidly to decreases in the loading of trace 

contaminants, thereby possibly reducing the effectiveness of remedial actions taken by resource managers. 

The presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from 

natural interstitial waters of the Great Lakes was 

shown to reduce the bioavailability of organic contaminants, thus confirming the results of laboratory 

studies performed using artificial DOM standards. 

The freshwater shrimp, Mysis relicta, was used in a 

study of the uptake of contaminants via ingestion of 

contaminated food versus direct1 y from contaminated 

water. Results contradicted the common assumption 

that the contaminant body burden of an aquatic animal is enhanced by ingestion of contaminated food: in 

this study, the body burden of benzo(a)pyrene in M. 

relicta decreased when contaminated food was 

ingested. 

The GLERL non-steady-state sediment mixing model 

was validated against the vertical distribution of lead 

in cores from high sedimentation areas of the Great 

Lakes. The model-predicted distributions provided an 

extremely good fit to observed data. 

Thirty-five sediment cores were hand-collected from 

Lake St. Clair by divers as part of the UGLCCS. These 

cores will be analyzed to evaluate whether Lake St. 

Clair acts as a natural trap for contaminant-bearing 

particles from the St. Clair River and surrounding 

watershed. Remotely deployable instrument packages 

were developed for a related study of sediment resuspension in Lake St. Clair. These packages are instrumented with wave, current, temperature, and light 

transmission sensors and can collect and store data for 

up to a month between retrievals. 

The Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics Group studies the factors that control nutrient and energy cycling, 

ecological succession, and long-term biological trends in 

the Great Lakes. Highlights of their work during FY 1985 

include: 

A heatdiffusion model was developed for Lake Michigan that simulates the daily epilimnetic thermal structure, emphasizing diurnal variations in stability, 

mixed-layer depth, and mixing time. The model simulations compared favorably with actual observations 

made during 1983 and 1984. 
Highlights 

Carbon-14 based estimates of primary productivity in 

Lake Michigan were found to be in good agreement 

with other, independent estimates. This suggests that 

the carbon-14 technique may be satisfactory for limnologic work, unlike the experience of the oceanic 

community, which has agreed to disagree as to the 

validity of the technique applied to oceanic productivity. Productivity over the past ten summers was found 

to be relatively constant in spite of significant reductions in phosphorus loading, indicating that summer 

productivity is not phosphorus-limited. 

Simulations of subthermocline production in the presence of internal waves showed that conventional estimates can be significantly in error, depending on the 

trajectory of the phytoplankton population being 

affected by the wave. Productivity estimates with 

improved accuracy can be made if the trajectory of the 

phytoplankton and the resulting effects of internal 

waves are considered and incorporated in the estimates. 

Bacterial production can account for a significant portion of the total production in the Great lakes. During 

FY 1985, experiments were conducted to determine 

whether Lake Michigan bacteria are limited more by 

organic substrate availability or by predation. The 

results indicate that grazing pressure provides more 

control over the bacterial population. 

The particle size distribution of calcite crystals formed 

during late summer "whitings" in Lake Michigan was 

studied. A novel technique was used to differentiate 

between the carbonate (i.e., calcite) and noncarbonate part of the total size spectrum. Calcite was 

shown to comprise from 12 to 56% of the total particle volume during whitings, but had similar year-toyear size distributions, with a modal size of 7 microns 

equivalent spherical diameter. Therefore, light scattering off calcite particles is expected to have a minimal 

impact on the transmission of light through the water 

column, as scattering is most intense at 1 micron and 

decreases rapidly with increased particle size. 

Simulation experiments on the effects of silicon limitation on Great Lakes phytoplankton revealed that silicon limitation affects the ability of diatoms to utilize 

phosphorus and thus triggers the observed shift to 

blue-green algae during the summer. 

Measurements of the seasonal lipid (fat) content of 

four species of benthic invertebrates and a freshwater 

shrimp were completed. Those that feed on suspended material generally had higher and more variable lipid contents (and therefore are more desirable 

prey for small fish) than those which feed on already 

deposited subsurface material. 

Calculations on the areal distribution and caloric content of the major benthic species in Lake Michigan 

revealed that the benthic invertebrate, Pontoporeia 

hoyi, is the dominant species, constituting about 65% 

of the benthic biomass and containing approximately 

7O0/0 of the total caloric reservoir there. Based on 

these findings, it is estimated that P. hoyi could 

require up to 30% of the incoming detritus to maintain this level of energy storage. 

Pontoporeia hoyi was found to retain most of its lipids 

as energy-storing triglycerides, and was observed to 

survive at least 80 days without food. Evidence from 

gut-content vs. time studies suggests that P. hoyi may 

feed sporadically rather than continuously. The ability 

of this organism to efficiently store energy and to go 

without food for long periods of time is thought to at 

least partly explain its ability to thrive in low-nutrient 

environments, such as the upper Great Lakes. 

A GLERL scientist participated in the exploration of 

Lake Superior using a research submersible. He used 

the submersible for direct evaluations of benthic sampling techniques, and to examine the microdistributions of benthic invertebrates. A major observation 

was the occurrence of large numbers of freshwater 

Hydra coating rocks as deep as 400 meters. 

During FY 1985 the Great Lakes set record high 

water levels. The Lake Hydrology Group at GLERL 

focuses on studies to improve our knowledge of the 

hydrologic and hydraulic processes that affect the Great 

Lakes, including improving forecasting methodology, 

producing more accurate simulations of water supplies 

and lake water levels, and improving large river dynamic 

flow models. The hydrology program also pursues studies to improve information concerning the seasonal ice 

cover on the lakes, including formation, growth, movement, and decay of the seasonal ice and snow cover. 

During FY 1985: 

The Hydrology staff completed development of a 

semi-automatic software package which uses meteorologic data in near-real-time to predict water sup 

plies to Lake Superior. Parts of this package were 

installed on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Detroit 

District) mainframe computer and mini-computer, for 

use in forecasting Great Lakes water levels for the 

International Joint Commission. 

A similar forecast package was developed for Lake 

Champlain and installed on the computer at the 

National Weather Service (NWS) Northeast River 

Forecast Center, at their request. 

The first year of simultaneous measurements of currents in both the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers was completed. Analyses of the data showed that standard 

electromagnetic current meters are poorly suited for 

prolonged measurements in rivers which are subject 

to a high incidence of flowing debris, including ice 

and weeds. On the other hand, acoustic doppler current profilers appeared to suffer no deterioration of 

accuracy under the same conditions. 

A winter field program to measure and characterize 

the spectral reflectance of snow and freshwater ice 

types was continued during FY 1985. Correction fac- 
Highlights 

tors for atmospheric attenuation and path radiance 

were calculated from measurements using calibration 

panels, snow, and open water. Application of these 

correction factors produced a slight increase in the 

average reflectance measured for a variety of Great 

Lakes snow and ice types. 

A temperature climatology was developed for Lake 

Superior and made available to NWS forecasters in 

tabular and graphical forms, including both hardcopy 

and an on-line computerized data base. 

An interactive computer program was developed on 

the GLERL computer for use by the NWS Weather 

Service Forecast Office - Ann Arbor, to allow forecasting of ice formation, ice thickness, and date of 

breakup at specific locations along the St. Marys 

River. During the 1985-86 winter season the NWS 

will access this forecast model on the GLERL computer on an experimental basis, to test its validity. 

The Physical Limnology and Meteorology Group 

studies the physical processes and variables that determine and describe how the Great Lakes and coastal estuaries respond to external physical forcing, and develops 

improved numerical simulation and prediction methods. 

The primary driving processes are the wind acting on the 

water surface, the exchange of heat across the wateratmosphere boundary, and hydraulic flow through the 

system. Research conducted by this group includes studies of nearshore and lakewide circulation, seasonal 

changes in the current regimes, thermal structure of the 

water column, surface waves, and seiching and surging 

during storms. During FY 1985, the significant results of 

these studies included: 

A permanent rotational wave with a 4day period was 

shown to be trapped within the southern basin of Lake 

Michigan, a finding that may help simplify dynamical 

simulations of this basin. 

The characteristics of the bottom Ekman layer in 

southern Lake Michigan were described in detail, and 

revealed that most of the Ekman veering occurs within 

10 meters of the bottom. These results will be used to 

improve simulation models that incorporate the nearbottom or benthic boundary layer as a consideration. 

Analyses of data collected during previous fiscal years 

showed that, under light wind and wave conditions 

on the Great Lakes, the trajectory difference, or "slippage," between drifter buoys and actual water parcels 

tagged by dye is well described by elementary slip 

page theory. This allows the development of an 

improved drifter data base that is more useful for trajectory prediction verification. 

In connection with the UGLCCS, three week-long 

synoptic current surveys were made at eleven sites in 

Lake St. Clair. Each survey consisted of a time series of 

128 measurements made at 0.5-second intervals at 

three depths at each site over the course of the week. 

The Pathfinder Trajectory Prediction Model was used 

several times by the U.S. Coast Guard and the NOAA 

Hazardous Materials Response Team to predict the 

movement of spills and similar contaminant inputs, 

and to focus search and rescue operations in the Great 

Lakes. Improvements to this model were begun during FY 1985, based on testing the model against 

GLERL's library of drifter records. 

The GLERL Interactive Wave Prediction Model was 

made available in a modified form to include an airwater temperature difference parameter at the request 

of the Cleveland Weather Service Forecast Office, 

which will evaluate the usefulness of this parameter 

during FY 1986. 

A joint experiment (WAVEDISS '85) involving scientists from GLERL, the National Water Research Institute of Canada (NWRI), and the Atmospheric Environment Service of Canada was started in Lake St. Clair to 

measure wave dissipation and the effects of waves on 

sediment resuspension in shallow water environments. Instrumented towers were deployed in Sep 

tember 1985 and will remain deployed through 

November 1985. 

A comparison of data from a GLERLdeployed 

satellite-reporting wave buoy against the wave heights 

reported by a NOAA NOMAD weather buoy in Lake 

Erie revealed slight biases in the NOMAD data at both 

the high and low ends of the waveheight range 

(0.1 - 1.9 meters). 

A study of shallow water effects on the wind wave 

spectrum was completed using field measurements 

made in Lake Erie during 1981. It demonstrated that 

the depthdependent factors derived for the deep 

ocean environment are very effective in characterizing the depth effects of wind waves in shallow water 

systems. 

The Environmental Systems Studies Group completed its first full year of research. The work of this 

group focuses on questions concerning the effects on the 

Great Lakes ecosystems of alternative management 

schemes and human-induced changes, the risks to ecosystem health posed by contaminants, and the costeffectiveness of environmental management strategies. 

During FY 1985: 

An optimization and cost-effectiveness analysis of the 

various strategies to implement the IJC plan for phosphorus management in the Great Lakes region was 

completed. The results showed that the probability of 

attaining the stated goals varies from basin to basin, 

and is quite low under some strategies. An alternative 

least-cost strategy was described which, with a 100% 

probability, would lead to achievement of the desired 

goals in all basins. 

Coordination of the GLERL studies in relation to the 

UGLCCS was provided, and a phosphorus mass balance model for Lake St. Clair was developed. Devel- 
Highlights 

opment of a similar, but more detailed, toxic contaminant model was begun. 

lnformation Services 

Staff participation on boards, commissions, task 

forces, and committees provides a mechanism for GLERL 

to define user needs and identify needed products. During FY 1985, GLERL staff were active participants on 

several boards, committees, and task forces under the 

auspices of the IJC, and in connection with the UGLCCS. 

Staff also participated as members of regional, federal, 

and international groups, such as the U.S. Ice Information Working Group, the International Association for 

Hydrologic Research, a planning group involving the 

NOAAlNational Marine Pollution Program Office and 

the Environmental Protection Agency, the NOAA Marine 

Environmental Quality Task Force, the Synthetic Organics Research Subcommittee, the Habitat Modification 

Research Subcommittee, and the Executive Board of the 

International Association for Great Lakes Research. A 

complete description of these staff activities is found 

under the lnformation Services section of this report. 

The lnformation Services Group ensures that GLERL 

products are provided to the user communities in a 

timely manner and in the appropriate format. During FY 

1985, almost 2,800 products were distributed in 

response to almost 1,600 documented requests for 

GLERL products and related information. U.S. and foreign state and federal government requests comprised 

37% of the requests, while university requests were 

31 %, industrial requests were 2S0Io, and private citizens 

accounted for 2% of the total. GLERL also made eight 

significant technology transfers to outside users, as follows: 

Method for Amino Acid Analysis of Natural Waters 

Track Autoradiography Procedure 

Measurement of Primary Production in Lakes and 

Rivers 

The Pathfinder Trajectory Spill Model 

The Lake Champlain Water Supply Model 

The Interactive Wave Prediction Model 

The Lake Superior Water Supply Model 

Technique to Estimate Snow Water Equivalent from 

Gamma Radiation Measurements. 

Facilities 

During FY 1985, GLERL continued to occupy space 

in five locations around Ann Arbor, with warehousing 

some 60 miles away. However, significant progress was 

made toward obtaining new leased facilities that would 

consolidate all GLERL functions under one roof. The 

existing facilities include: 

Biology and chemistry laboratories for both general 

and specialized measurements and analyses, including a newly installed independent Microcinematography Laboratory for high-speed motion picture studies 

of biological processes. In addition, there is a selfcontained Ice Laboratory which allows laboratorybased experiments to be conducted at sub-freezing 

temperatures. 

The Marine Instrumentation Laboratory, which is a 

separate unit under the Physical Limnology and Meteorology Group and provides comprehensive support 

for the design, calibration, repair, and deployment of 

instruments to collect field data. 

The Computer facility, consisting of an on-site VAX 

111780 system and access to both a mainframe Cyber 

180/855 and a Cyber 205 supercomputer, the latter 

under the auspices of the Department of Commerce 

Consolidated Scientific Computing Service located in 

Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

The RN Shenehon, GLERL's primary field platform, 

which is a 65.6 foot research vessel based at the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers boat yard in Grand Haven, 

Michigan. During FY 1985, the on-board laboratory 

was modernized and expanded, and a number of 

other improvements to the scientific facilities were 

made resulting in easier access and more deck and 

storage space. 

The GLERL Library, which maintains a research collection tailored to staff needs, and which provides 

specialized retrieval services when the existing collection cannot meet special staff requirements. Collection holdings include 3,100 books, 3,700 unbound 

periodical volumes, and 2,900 technical reports. 
Introduction 

GLERL Overview government and private organizations to facilitate planning and improve decision making in relation to water 

This Annual Report of the Great Lakes Environmen- resources management. 

tal Research Laboratory (GLERL) provides a summary of 

significant accomplishments and activities related to its 

research programs during fiscal year 1985 (FY 1985: 

October 1, 1984 -September 30, 1985). GLERL is an Ocean and Great Lakes Prediction 

environmental research laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under Research 

the U.S. Department of Commerce, and has com~leted 

its ele~enth.~ear of operation in Ann Arbor, ~ic'hi~an. 

GLERL's mission is to conduct research directed toward 

understanding the environmental processes and solving 

problems in resource management and environmental 

services in coastal and estuarine waters, with a focus on 

the Great Lakes. 

Special emphasis is placed on a systems approach in 

problem-oriented research to develop environmental 

service tools. Decision makers at all levels of government require access to information and improved methods for impact assessment, resource management, and 

safety and economy of operations in the coastal marine 

environment. The Great Lakes are the largest reservoir of 

fresh surface water in the United States, but are also sinks 

for domestic and industrial wastes. Major cities, including Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, 

Rochester, and Toledo, are located along the more than 

5,000 miles of U.S. shoreline, and over 30 million people in the United States take their drinking water from 

the lakes. Understanding the complex lake-landatmosphere-sediment system of the areas in and around 

the Great Lakes and coastal and estuarine waters and the 

many interactions that influence the lives of those in 

these regions requires a team of scientists with different 

backgrounds working together. Field, laboratory, and 

analytic investigations of the limnological, hydrological, 

and meteorological properties of the lakes, their basins, 

and the overlying atmosphere are necessary. The ultimate goal of the GLERL program is to understand the 

system to the extent that environmental simulation and 

prediction models can be built that will provide sufficiantly precise information on Great Lakes and coastal 

and estuarine processes and phenomena to support 

enlightened use of the region's resources. 

Research at GLERL is carried out by five groups: 

Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics, Ecosystem 

and Nutrient Dynamics, Lake Hydrology, Physical Limnology and Meteorology, and Environmental Systems 

Studies. Staff specialties include aquatic chemistry, 

aquatic biology and toxicology, applied mathematics, 

meteorology, geology, hydrology, physical oceanography, ecology, computer systems applications, instrument 

design and development, and experimental design and 

analysis. The products of GLERL's research are used by 

GLERL's multidisciplinary program supports the 

Ocean and Great Lakes Prediction Research Program of 

NOAA. Two elements of this program provide the focus 

for GLERL research: Marine Ecosystems Assessment, and 

Marine Hazards and Lake Hydrology. The Marine Ecosystems Assessment research program at GLERL is 

designed to (1) improve our understanding of, and predictions related to, natural marine ecosystems, physical 

phenomena, and the impact of human-induced stresses 

on the ecosystem, and (2) help provide a sound scientific 

basis for management decisions pertinent to marine 

resources, marine pollution, and environmentally sensitive marine activities. GLERL projects in support of these 

program elements 'include investigations into the shortand long-term effects of human, agricultural, and industrial wastes on aquatic life and water quality, particularly 

in the nearshore zone (the area of maximum use and 

conflict); the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems and the effects of human activities on those ecosystems; measurement, analyses, and prediction of physical 

phenomena such as currents, river flows, and air-watersediment interactions; and sedimentary fluxes and processes, especially sediment-contaminant interactions. 

Marine Hazards and Lake Hydrology research focuses 

on (1) improving prediction of environmental phenomena associated with the National Weather Service (NWS) 

marine warning and forecasting services and the regulation of Great Lakes water flow by the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, and (2) providing better tools and methods for 

short- and long-term assessments of water resources of 

large lakes. GLERL research in these areas includes field 

and analytical investigations to develop simulation and 

prediction models of over-water wind and wind-waves, 

water surface oscillations, storm surges, and flooding; 

lake ice formation, growth, movement, and break-up; 

and hydrologic lake levels, water supplies and balance, 

and flows in the connecting channels. GLERL staff work 

closely with colleagues at the forecasting and warning 

service agencies to assure that GLERL products meet the 

needs of the operational forecasters. Products released to 

the user community continue to be improved by GLERL 

researchers, either by fine-tuning or by the addition of 

new tools and capabilities. 
Introduction 

The Upper Great Lakes Connecting 

Channels Study 

The Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study 

(UCLCCS) is an international (United States-Canada) and 

interagency multiyear study of water quality and ecosystem dynamics in the upper Great Lakes connecting channels. Study areas include the St. Marys River, the St. Clair 

River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River; all are designated by the International Joint Commission (IJC) as 

"Areas of Concern" in which environmental quality is 

degraded and beneficial uses of the water and biota are 

adversely affected. The goals of the study are (1 to determine the existing environmental condition of the study 

areas, (2) to identify and quantify the impacts of contaminant loading on human and ecosystem uses of the study 

areas, (3) to determine the adequacy of existing or proposed programs for ensuring or restoring beneficial uses, 

and (4) to recommend appropriate programs for protecting the study areas. 

GLERL's involvement in the UCLCCS is research oriented and addresses a number of physical, chemical, 

and biological questions pertinent to accomplishing the 

overall study's goals. Through coordinated modeling, 

field, and laboratory studies, GLERL scientists seek 

answers to questions, such as, given a contaminant loading, where will the contaminant ultimately go, how long 

will it remain there, what will its concentration be, and 

what risk will it pose to the ecosystem? In order to 

answer these questions GLERL scientists are developing 

current, wave and particle transport models for the study 

area, studying the toxicokinetics of organic contaminants 

in biota, researching sediment and sediment-adsorbed 

contaminant dynamics, examining ecosystem processes 

that affect contaminant dynamics, and developing contaminant fate and exposure models for determining the 

risk to ecosystem health that might result from a variety 

of management or contaminant loading scenarios. 
Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics 

The Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics Group Particlecontaminant Interactions 

concentrates on understanding the processes that control 

the movement and fate of Gate -contaminants in the 

Great Lakes and coastal marine ecosystems. Ongoing 

work focuses on factors controlling contaminant partitioning to particulate matter, lake particle flux dynamics, 

the role of benthic invertebrates in contaminant cycling, 

and early diagenesis and mixing processes in sediments. 

Contaminants, particularly the organic xenobiotics 

(i.e., organic compounds foreign to the biota), have been 

identified at many levels as a critical problem on 

regional, national, and global scales. This is particularly 

true for the Great Lakes and estuarine areas which 

receive high loads, have limited flushing, and support 

extremely valuable yet fragile ecosystems. Any attempt 

to understand the transport, fate, and effects of toxic 

contaminants in an aquatic ecosystem must consider 

details of the physics, hydrology, nutrient cycling, chemistry, ecology, and organism physiologies for the system 

under study. Such information must be provided at a 

level of temporal and spatial detail consistent with the 

questions being addressed. Only then can a framework 

be developed for determining the movement and speciation of contaminants as well as for estimating exposure, 

bioavailability, and effects. 

Contaminant cycling in an aquatic ecosystem can be 

divided into five major areas of study: (1) environmental 

monitoring for load estimates, and validation and caliIn lakes and estuaries, the partitioning of hydrophobic 

organic contaminants (HOC) onto particles followed by 

settling and eventual burial is commonly the major internal process controlling the residence time and concentration of these compounds in the water column. Over 

the past few years, several laboratory studies have shown 

that partitioning between the dissolved phase and particles is inversely proportional to the solubility of the 

HOC and to the substrate concentration, and is proportional to the organic carbon content of the substrate. 

Total suspended particulate matter (TSM) plays a vital 

role in the solution chemistry of the Great Lakes by sorb 

ing pollutants from the water, thus providing a potential 

mechanism for cleansing the lakes through sedimentation. In some cases, however, the sediments serve as 

only a temporary reservoir for the sorbed contaminants, 

later releasing them to the overlying water and exposing 

the ecosystem to "trapped" contaminants through the 

processes of diffusion, sediment resuspension, or food 

web transfer upward from the benthos. 

Investigations in our laboratory have recently shown 

that HOC also form an association with the spectrum of 

materials operationally defined as dissolved, which 

includes very fine particles and dissolved organic matter 

(DOM). The partitioning of HOC to TSM or DOM 

bration ofkodels, (2) physical; chemical, and biological 

processes affecting the fate, transport, and degradation of 

contaminants, (3) exposure, bioavailability, toxicokinetics, and biodegradation of contaminants, (4) acute 

and chronic effects and development of biochemical and 

biological early warning indicators, and (5) system 

assessments and predictive simulation modeling. 

GLERL has focused its program on those processes 

with characteristic time scales of seasonal or greater 

lengths that affect the long-term behavior and fate of 

contaminants. This program is now five years old and 

significant progress has been made in the development 

of tools for the simulation of lake scale, long-term contaminant behavior. Other problems exist for which 

shorter-term processes (day-week) must be simulated. 

These include limited nearshore systems, shallow systems of any areal extent, estimates of effects on particular life history stages, etc. Although much of what we 

have learned will be transferable, the decrease in temporal and spatial dimensions by an order of magnitude 

vastly increases the effort required to develop simulations with the same precision achieved for whole lake 

systems. Program efforts are now focusing on the 

sediment-water-benthos subsystem, which has been 

identified as the area with major impact on long-term Figure 1. A conceptual representation of the cycling of trace 

contaminant behavior, and which has a direct link to contaminants in the Great Lakes and the closed-loop relationhumans (Fig. 1 ). ship to human beings. 
Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics 

appears to significantly reduce the bioavailability of 

these compounds to Great Lakes benthic organisms. 

A perceived shortcoming of' most laboratory studies of 

phase distribution is the use of artificial media, usually 

with grossly elevated substrate concentrations. Since 

substrate concentration affects HOC distributions, the 

results of these experiments are difficult to extrapolate to 

field conditions for modeling purposes. Previous laboratory measurements of the partitioning of a variety of 

radiolabeled organic contaminants to 11 samples of sediment trap material, collected at approximately monthly 

intervals from a 15-meter depth at a station in the center 

of southern Lake Michigan with a bottom depth of 146 

meters, showed an order of magnitude range in K, the 

ratio of particle associated to dissolved contaminant concentrations. This seasonal signal was shown to have a 

significant effect on contaminant concentrations predicted by our fate models. During FY 1985 a more temporally detailed study was completed. Freshly collected 

Great Lakes waters were inoculated with a suite of 

radiolabeled HOC and were phase separated after equilibration, to measure the concentration of freely dissolved 

HOC versus the concentration of HOC associated with 

TSM and DOM. The study examined the effects on compound phase distribution of both the seasonal changes 

and differences in ambient conditions among the Great 

Lakes. Results indicate a complicated seasonal pattern 

that is compound dependent (Fig. 2). Benzo(a)pyrene 

(BaP) is predominantly particle bound early in the year, 

eventually becoming primar~ly dissolved by early summer. DDT shows almost the inverse behavior, while 

pyrene distribution remains essentially constant throughout the year. The measured seasonal values of the K, for 

BaP were used in our contaminant fate model and the 

outputs (assuming constant load and steady state) indicate that the values significantly affect the predicted 

water concentration. At present there are insufficient 

data to validate these results. This work is being continued. 

Surficial sediments, with their sorbed contaminants, 

are mixed by animal activity (bioturbation) and are reintroduced to the water column via resuspension. In order 

to study the role of resuspension in the Great Lakes, 

GLERL has been measuring the fluxes of particulate matter using sediment traps moored in vertical arrays in the 

water column. Past results from Lake Michigan indicated 

that resuspension follows a seasonal pattern, with a maximum in the winter. This process was shown to influence 

the observable characteristics of both the sediments and 

the water column. By providing a mechanism for intimate contact between recent sedi ments and overlying 

water, resuspension appears to play a significant role in 

the cycling of nutrients and contaminants. 

In a continuation of these studies, vertical arrays of 

sediment traps (5 - 7 per array) were deployed in July 

1984 at four stations each in Lakes Superior, Huron, and 

Michigan. The traps were retrieved, sampled, and redeployed in September 1984 and retrieved for the last time 

40 

POC ("00) 20 

TSM (pprn) 24m 

0 

DOC (PP~) 6M 

0 

80 :?:'$j, Dissolved 

Benzo(a)- I::.::.. Bound 

pyrene 40 :::..(::: .-:.., . ... .'~..... ., ., :. _. i.. . .. .... -- ..Particulate:..:':.::: 

.::;:.:. :..:.:.:: :::. 

c 

.,........ ... 

Pyrene 4o 

110 200 300 

Julian Day 

Figure 2. Results of trace organic phase distribution experiments using Lake Michigan waters. The particulate organic 

carbon in the samples ranged from 5 to 24%, TSM ranged from 

0.8 to 4.1 ppm, and DOC remained relatively constant. BaP is 

over 80% particle associated in the spring, but declines to 

about 25% in summer. DDT shows the reverse seasonal partitioning behavior while pyrene partitioning is essentially constant for all samples. 

in July 1985. Thus there were two samples from each 

trap, one representing fluxes during the period of thermal stratification (summer) and one when the lakes were 

unstratified (winter). The deployments in Lake Michigan 

were at locations that had been sampled in prior years 

and these served as controls. The fluxes measured in 

1984-85 were within the range of values previously 

measured, indicating that we had collected during a 

"typical year." A total of 162 samples were recovered; 

two were lost when a mooring-wire parted. 

Summer particle mass flux data from one station in 

each of the three lakes are shown in Figure 3 (note that 

stations are of similar depth). The fluxes in Lakes Michigan (average lake depth (Z) = 86 meters) and Huron (Z 

= 59 meters) were similar and significantly greater than 
Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics 

I 0,- 

Mass Flux, 1984-'85 

100 

80k ---- \ 

Superior Michigan ~icGan 

Figure 3. Particle mass fluxes measured using sediment traps 

at offshore stations in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior. A 

winter profile from the Lake Michigan station provides a comparison of the magnitude of this process during stratified (summer) versus unstratified (winter) periods. 

the flux measured in Lake Superior (Z = 149 meters). 

The winter flux profile from the Lake Michigan station 

shown in Figure 3 reveals a significant increase in the 

mass flux during the unstratified winter period. 

Primary flux (e.g., flux of new material) was calculated 

using the data from the near-surface traps during the 

stratified period, and ranged from 0.1 to 1 gram per 

square meter per day. Resuspension was calculated as 

the integral of the flux profiles (divided by depth) minus 

the primary flux. Values in the three lakes ranged from 

0.2 to almost 10 grams per square meter per day. These 

data are being used in GLERL's contaminant fate models 

that include the reintroduction of contaminated sediments by resuspension. From moored sediment trap collections, we have shown that in Lake Michigan the reintroduction of (1) sedimentary PCBs and (2) phosphorus 

and other contaminants by resuspension is equal to the 

sum of all other inputs of these materials. There is a long 

time constant (on the order of decades) associated with 

this internal recycling, proportional to the ratio of the 

thickness of the sediment-mixed layer to the rate of sediment accumulation. Thus, the combination of the bioturbation and resuspension processes buffers the lake system from responding to changes in loading of trace 

contaminants. These processes must be quantitatively 

understood in order to predict system responses to 

potential remedial alternatives. 

Benthos-Sediment Interactions 

A second and apparently ~mportant process for remobilizing contaminants out of sediments involves direct 

uptake by benthic invertebrates and transfer up the food 

chain to higher trophic levels. Previous benthossediment interaction studies have examined the uptake, 

depuration, and biotransformation rate constants for various toxic organics in Great Lakes invertebrates and the 

empirical relationships between the rate constants and 

environmental parameters such as temperature, pollutant concentration, and sorption to dissolved and particulate matter. During the past year GLERL research 

focused on changes in bioavailability due to the presence of DOM. 

DOM in aquatic systems has been shown to reduce 

the bioavailability of heavy metals. Past studies have 

demonstrated similar reductions in the bioavailability of 

organic contaminants in the presence of Aldrich humic 

acid, a laboratory standard for DOM. The mechanism for 

reduction was partitioning to the DOM, which reduced 

the "freely dissolved" bioavailable concentration of the 

contaminant. During FY 1985 this mechanism was also 

found to affect organic contaminants in the presence of 

DOM from natural interstitial waters. Partitioning of 

organic contaminants to DOM in waters from several 

geographical sources ranged over several orders of magnitude for an individual compound. A reverse-phase sep 

aration technique was used to measure the bound or 

sorbed xenobiotic, and by difference from the total, the 

freely dissolved concentration of a contaminant. The 

reverse-phase partition coefficient to DOM (K,,) was 

well correlated (r 0.86) with bioavailability as measured by the uptake rate constant (Kb) of the organic 

xenobiotics to the amphipod Pontoporeia hoyi (the 

major benthic invertebrate in the Great Lakes) in the 

presence of DOM. Kb decreased over a range of three 

orders of magnitude in measured partition coefficient for 

individual organic contaminant compounds in the presence of DOM from different sources (Fig. 4). While sorp 

tion to DOM results in reduced bioavailability over the 

short term, the stabilization of nonpolar xenobiotics with 

time in the water column will likely produce enhanced 

dispersion and result in long-term, low level exposure of 

aquatic organisms to organic xenobiotics. 

Data showing the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons (PAH) from sediments by benthic organisms, specifically Pontoporeia hoyi, continue to exhibit 

considerable complexity. There appear to be several 

parameters that affect the bioaccumulation of PAH from 

sediment: sediment composition, the amount of material 

ingested by the organism, and the characteristics of the 

compound under investigation. Recent studies of P. hoyi 

indicate that this benthic invertebrate does not feed continuously and that the percent of the population that is 

feeding varies with size of the animals. P. hoyi, exposed 

in small static systems to sediments taken from the highsedimentation area near Benton Harbor, Michigan, and 

treated with radiolabeled PAH, exhibited 100°/~ mortality within 2 weeks. The P. hoyi were generally found to 

be free-swimming, thus avoiding the sediment. Another 

experiment, employing PAH-treated artificial sediment 

consisting of quartz and 1 O/O trout chow by weight, in the 

same size system, also resulted in 100°/0 mortality within 
Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics 

Figure 4. Plot of log Kb (biologically measured partition coefficient to DOM) versus log K, (reverse-phase partition coefficient to DOM) yields a strong positive correlation (r - 0.86). 

This will permit the mean log Kb to be predicted within * 0.1 1 

log units at the 95% CV from log K,. 

4 days. However, in the artificial substrate the problem 

appeared to be a bacterial bloom, and the P. hoyi did not 

appear to avoid the sediment. A sediment avoidance 

study was performed using fresh Lake Michigan sediment from the Grand Haven, Michigan, area as one control and quartz sand as a second control. Dried sediment 

from the Benton Harbor area and dried sediment from 

the Grand Haven area that had been used in previous 

experiments, were compared to the two controls. Both 

the quartz sand and the fresh sediment were found to be 

equally acceptable to the organisms, while the Benton 

Harbor sediment was the least acceptable (Table 1). Contaminant uptake rates were measured using Lake Michigan sediment collected from the Grand Haven area. The 

initial uptake rates were proportional to the water solubility of the xenobiotic, with the low water solubility 

compounds yielding the slowest rates. However, the 

high water solubility compounds appeared to become 

unavailable after several days, indicated by a decrease in 

the rate of uptake with time, while the sediment xenobiotic concentration and composition did not change. In 

TABLE 1. Sediment avoidance by Pontoporeia hoyi. 

Number of Pontoporeia hoyi 

per 25.5 square centimeters 

Sediment Mean (k1 SD) 

Benton Harbor (dried) 2.22 (2.54) 

Grand Haven (dried) 5.65 (4.33) 

Grand Haven (fresh) 10.89 (6.05) 

Sand 15.89 (1 2.59) 

0 50 0 

Time (hours) 

Figure 5. Uptake by Mysis relicta of BaP from contaminated 

water (line C) and two food-water combinations. The food 

sources used were the algae Tabellaria floculosa (left) and the 

zooplankton Daphnia pulex (right). 

the case of phenanthrene, the bioaccumulated level 

actually decreased after several days. Studies with flowing water systems are currently being used to further 

define the processes that are affecting bioaccumulation 

from sediment sources. This area will require considerable work to develop an understanding of the role of 

sediment in the accumulation of xenobiotics by benthic 

organisms. 

The freshwater shrimp Mysis relicta constitutes a large 

percentage of the food source for young Great Lakes fish 

and also consumes many types of food (i.e., phytoplankton, zooplankton, and detritus). For these reasons, 

a study of contaminant transport in M. relicta will help in 

understanding the dynamics of contaminant transport via 

food consumption in the Great Lakes. M. relicta has 

been exposed to BaP in (1) water and (2) a natural food 

source plus water. The consumption of BaP-enriched 

food reduces the body burden of BaP in this animal (Fig. 

5). This finding is contrary to the commonly held notion 

that the contaminant body burden of an aquatic animal is 

enhanced by the consumption of contaminated food. 

These results may be due to increased elimination of 

contaminants in the presence of food. 

If this phenomenon holds in the field, the PAH body 

burden of Mysis relicta is likely to be high when food 

supplies are low (i.e., winter months) and low when 

food supplies are abundant (i.e., summer months). Field 

samples of M. relicta are presently being analyzed for 

BaP content to test this hypothesis. 

Because the toxicokinetics of organic xenobiotics can 

be modified by induction resulting from exposure to certain specific compounds, the toxicokinetics of Pontoporeia hoyi collected at the Benton Harbor high sedimentation area are being compared with P. hoyi collected off 

Grand Haven. The Benton Harbor area has a higher concentration of organic xenobiotics by approximately an 
- - - 

Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics 

order of magnitude compared to Grand Haven. Preliminary results indicate a statistically significant reduction in 

the uptake rate constant for the P. hoyi collected at the 

Benton Harbor high sedimentation site compared to 

those collected the same day from the Grand Haven 

area. This reduction could be accounted for by the difference in the mass of the organisms from the Benton Harbor area, which were, on the average, 33% larger per 

animal. No differences in the depuration rates or biotransformation rates (no measurable biotransformation in 

either population) of the two populations were found. 

The above data suggest that no induction is occurring. 

In conjunction with scientists at Ohio State University, 

studies were begun using an in vitro aryl hydrocarbon 

hydroxylase (AHH) assay to compare bullheads from the 

Black River, which have exhibited high levels of tumors, 

to fish from Old Woman Creek National Estuary; the 

latter acting as a control site. Initial results indicate 

approximately a two-fold induction of AHH activity in 

the contaminant-exposed Black River fish compared to 

the control fish. These fish also seem to have a rapid 

conjugation system for phenolic metabolites. The goal of 

this research is to develop a field technique to measure 

exposure to organic xenobiotics. 

Bioturbation and Burial 

In an attempt to determine the rates of introduction of 

trace contaminants into the sediments and the postdepositional behavior of these contaminants, GLERL scientists 

collected and analyzed sets of sediment cores from the 

areas of maximum accumulation in each of the five 

Great Lakes. This was accomplished with ship and technical support provided by the Canada Centre for Inland 

Waters (CCIW). Twenty cores were carefully subdivided 

and distributed among 23 researchers for analyses, 

which are complete. Data interpretation will be completed during FY 1986. 

Results to date have supported previous reports of a 

near-surface layer of mixed sediments. A major advance 

has been the development of a nonsteady-state sediment 

mixing model that provides information on the rate of 

mixing in this mixed layer. This is necessary to simulate 

the movement of sediment-associated contaminants into 

and out of the region subject to resuspension and interaction with benthic organisms. The model takes account 

of (1) sediment accumulation, (2) compaction, (3) depthde~endent biodiffusion of particle and solution phases, 

depths in the upper sediments, while depositing gut contents from tails protruding above the sediment surface. 

This action transfers buried materials to the sediment 

surface and accelerates the rate of sediment and pore 

water burial within the feeding zone. Since this process 

is particle selective, it represents a mechanism for 

enhanced transfer of contaminants to the vicinity of the 

sediment-water interface. In the model, particle selectivity is handled by applying mass conservation separately 

to tracers and bulk sediments. 

The vertical distributions of lead in sediment cores 

illustrate the relationship between anthropogenic 

sources and deposition in the lake. Because geochemical 

evidence indicates that lead will be relatively immobile 

in these sediments, the shape of the observed profiles 

should be the result of lake processes and the history of 

lead emission within the Great Lakes region. In contrast 

to lead profiles in earlier (1 971 - 73) cores .from Lake 

Ontario in which the lead concentration peaked at the 

sediment-water interface, the lead concentrations in two 

cores collected during 1981 increased with depth to a 

subsurface maximum before decreasing to pre-cultural 

concentrations. In both cores, the lower lead concentrations in the upper few centimeters of sediment reflect the 

declining use of lead in the Great Lakes region. 

A correspondence between lead emissions and lead 

profiles can be illustrated quantitatively by independent 

determination of the loading of lead to the lake from 

regional records of coal and gasoline consumption. 

These two sources constitute the major environmental 

burden of lead. As the residence time of lead in the 

waters of the lakes is expected to be short (roughly 1 

year), profiles of lead should be congruent with the historical loading (source function). Since peak production, 

there has been a substantial reduction in the amount of 

atmospheric lead. This reduction should be apparent in 

areas of the Great Lakes where sediments accumulate 

rapidly and provide good time resolution. The results of 

using this source function in the steady-state mixing 

model with the sedimentation parameter fixed from 

lead-210 data are shown in Figure 6 as the dashed lines. 

The excellent quality of the fits supports the validity of 

the approach, suggesting a common time-dependent 

lead flux to the lake and a very limited mobility of lead in 

the sediments. The model (and data) indicate that the 

average lead flux in Lake Ontario increased 680% from 

the early 1800s to the time of maximum lead in the mid1 970s. 

(4)' molecular diffusion, (5)'advective transport and surface rede~osition of tracers and contaminants due to Upper Great Lakes Connecting 

depth-dependent feeding of conveyor-belt feeders, (6) channels Study radioactive decay, and (7) ti me-dependent fluxes to the 

sediment surface. What makes the model unique and yet As part of our cooperative research program with 

applicable to both freshwater and marine systems is the Region V, U.S. EPA, sediment samples were collected for 

treatment of sediment redistribution by the conveyor- radiometric and selected trace metal analyses (Fig. 7). 

belt deposit feeders. These organisms, prevalent in both These cores were hand-collected by divers in conjuncmarine and fresh water, ingest sediments over a range of tion with CCIW. Analyses of the cores are currently 
Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics 

Lead Concentration (mg / kg) 

Figure 6. Vertical distribution of stable lead in the Lake 

Ontario cores. The solid lines connect data points, while the 

dashed lines are the distributions predicted on the basis of lead 

atmospheric emissions inventories and the steady-state mixing 

model. The sedimentation rate is fixed in each case by the 

lead-21 0 data. Recent decreases in the use of leaded gasoline 

are reflected both in the emissions inventory and in sediment 

lead profiles. Theexcellent fit of the model simulations encourages use of refined models to treat distributions of contaminants with less well-known loadings and more complex sedimentary behavior. 

underway, with completion scheduled for 1987. The 

main objective of this portion of the international study 

is to determine the extent to which Lake St. Clair acts as a 

sediment trap for particle-associated contaminants entering from the St. Clair River system and other tributaries. 

The time constant for transport through this system into 

Lake Erie is a critical parameter in our Great Lakes modeling efforts. 

A second, particle-related study involves the in situ 

measurement of sediment resuspension in this shallow 

(Z = 7 meters) lake. Remotely deployable instrumented 

packages were developed and tested during the past 

Figure 7. Sediment sampling locations for the Upper Great 

Lakes Connecting Channels Study in Lake St. Clair. 

year. One monitors wave action, current velocity, temperature, and water transparency for periods of up to a 

month. By comparing these data with weather information we will be able to determine what meteorological 

events are likely to produce resuspension in the lake. 

The limited number of instrumented packages makes it 

impossible to monitor more than a few sites in the lake, 

so we are supplementing these measurements with measurements of resuspension rates using a bottom-resting 

flume through which water is drawn at controlled 

speeds. By measuring erosion rates of various substrates 

as a function of current velocity we will be able to 

extrapolate the results to other parts of the lake. 
Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics 

An understanding of and ability to predict the 

dynamics of Great Lakes ecosystems are needed to make 

wise decisions for management of the lakes in relation to 

both water quality and fishery resources. The "health" of 

the Great Lakes is evidenced by the abundance and composition of their biota. Benthic organisms can indicate 

long-term trends in water quality, whereas pelagic biota 

reflect present water quality. Because invertebrates from 

both zones are important prey for small fish, the amounts 

and composition of these small animals can affect total 

fish production in the Great Lakes. Planktonic phytoplankton are important because they affect water quality 

directly and also serve as the base of the aquatic food 

web. The ability to quantitatively predict the types and 

amounts of these organisms is needed to assess potential 

effects of human activities or natural changes in lakes or 

marine coastal ecosystems. Basic research is necessary to 

identify and understand critical first-order processes controlling: (I) the flow of nutrients and energy through the 

ecosystem and (2) the composition and successional patterns of biota in the lakes. Both of these phenomena are 

affected by complex interactions between physical (e.g., 

light, temperature, ice cover, water movements), chemical (e.g., nutrient supply and availability, toxic substances), and biological (e.g., food web dynamics, predation, and nutrient uptake and regeneration) factors. 

Critical factors affecting the biota must be recognized and quantified as parts of mathematical models to 

accurately predict the effects of human activities on the 

Great Lakes system. Conceptual and mathematical 

models developed at GLERL and elsewhere have demonstrated that nutrient limitation is a major factor controlling the quantity and composition of plankton in photic zones of the Great Lakes. Mechanisms controlling 

nutrient cycling must therefore be understood before 

changes in the biota and water quality of the lakes can be 

predicted. The close interrelationships between nutrients, phytoplankton, and aquatic invertebrates require 

an interdisciplinary research program to quantify and 

integrate these critical processes into simulation and prediction models. The Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics 

Group is investigating factors that control nutrient and 

energy cycling, ecological succession, and long-term 

trends in the Great Lakes. The long-term goal is to integrate experimental results into ecosystem models applicable to the Great Lakes and other freshwater and coastal 

marine ecosystems. 

Ecosystem Modeling 

A major problem in developing and testing the effectiveness of ecosystem models is the limited amount of 

comprehensive long-term field data available for aquatic 

Time (hours) 

Figure 8. Simulated 5-m mixing time (days) and epilimnetic 

temperatures (OC) on 15 July 1972 generated using a fine-scale 

heat-diffusion model for Lake Washington. Mixing time is 

defined as the time to transport particles (e.g., phytoplankton) 

from the surface down to a depth z via turbulent diffusion, and 

is directly related to the depth z and stability of the water 

column and inversely related to surface wind speed. Given 

uniform winds, the 5-m mixing time ranges from near instantaneous during nocturnal convection events to tens of days during post-noontime heating. 

ecosystems. Physical and chemical data collected from 

Lake Washington over the last 20 years were used to 

develop and test a physical model for natural waters, 

including the Great Lakes. Last year, development of a 

Lake Washington heat-diffusion model showed that the 

theoretical mixing time required to transport particles 

(e.g., phytoplankton) from the surface down to 5 meters 

via turbulent diffusion ranges from near instantaneous 

during nocturnal convection events to tens of days during post noon-time heating (Fig. 8). This phenomenon, 

coupled with the daily cycle and vertical extinction of 

incoming solar radiation, and the time-scale of photoinhibition, could have '-1 great impact on the fate and 

transport of seston and thus on epilimnetic primary production and other light-sensitive processes in lakes. 

A model similar to the Lake Washington heatdiffusion model was developed for Lake Michigan. The 

study focused on a column of water extending from the 

surface to the lake bottom, representing the column of 

water tracked by drifter buoys during the Lake Michigan 

Ecosystem Experiments of 1983 and 1984. The model 

simulates the daily epilimnetic thermal structure with 

emphasis on die1 variation in stability, mixed-layer 

depth, and mixing time (Fig. 9). The model was calibrated and tested with temperature data from bathythermograph profiles, thermistor strings, the NDBC007 
Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics 

Surface (model) 

I Julian Day 1 

Figure 9. Epilimnetic temperatures ("C) for 22-27 August 1984 

simulated by a fine-scale heat-diffusion model for Lake Michigan. Model temperatures at 0, 5, and 10 m (solid lines) are 

compared with drifter buoy surface temperatures (solid circles), 

data buoy surface temperatures (dashed line), and 0-, 5-, and 

10-m BT temperatures (open circles). The daily epilimnetic 

heating cycle, illustrated by both the model and the data, 

causes the formation and erosion of a die1 thermocline at a 

depth shallower than the season;~l thermocline. 

meteorological buoy in Lake Michigan, and a satellitetracked drifter buoy deployed by GLERL. The model 

accurately simulated the daily heating cycle and formation of a die1 thermocline at a depth shallower than the 

seasonal thermocline. Such die1 stratification increases 

the stability of the water column and restricts the vertical 

movement of phytoplankton populations, thus exposing 

portions of the population to higher irradiances during 

incubation periods. 

Ecosystem Dynamics Field Studies 

Previously, a 10-year data set for the region of Lake 

Michiganoffshore from Grand Haven was reviewed and 

updated to examine the effects of meteorological conditions and ecological dynamics on water quality. This 

work involved collating phosphorus, temperature, transmissivity, light-extinction coefficient, Secchi depth, chlorophyll, zooplankton, and fish data from diverse and 

often marginally compatible sources. It revealed a slight 

improvement of water quality in the southern basin over 

the 10 years, and 2 years of particularly clear water and 

low chlorophyll that were attributed to severe ice-cover 

(1977) and ecological shifts in the zooplankton caused 

by the decline in alewife abundance (1 983). 

Field data from the same area of Lake Michigan were 

collected during the last 3 years, including information 

on phytoplankton production, zooplankton grazing, 

light-extinction, incident radiation, phytoplankton biomass, and phytoplankton carbon content. In contrast to 

similar measurements in oceanic environments, carbon14 based estimates of primary productivity were in good 

agreement with other, independent estimates. This suggests that the difficulties with the carbon-14 technique 

experienced by the oceanic scientific community do not 

necessarily extend to the limnologic regime. Previous 

studies of Lake Michigan revealed significant reductions 

in the concentrations of total phosphorus and chlorophyll over the past 10 years, yet estimates of water 

column productivity during the summers of 1983 and 

1984 were not significantly different from estimates 

made in 1970 and again in 1975. These findings indicate 

that summer productivity is, to some degree, insensitive 

to decreases in phosphorus loading. 

Primary production below the thermocline (subthermocline production) becomes quantitatively important 

to the total water column production during periods of 

stable thermal stratification, when nutrients are depleted 

in the epilimnion. During such periods approximately 

50% of water column production takes place below the 

e~ilimnion. Therefore the accurate estimation of subthermocline production is important for a complete understanding of the nutrient cycle and energy flow in the 

Great Lakes system. During FY 1985 the effects of 

internal waves on the accuracy of conventional subthermocline production measurements were evaluated 

by computer simulation. Simulation results were significantly different from conventional estimates when the 

actual trajectory of the phytoplankton population was 

taken into consideration. Therefore, if accurate estimates 

of subthermocline production are desired, movements of 

the phytoplankton population by internal waves must be 

analvzed and the effects incor~orated in the estimates. 

carbon-14 data were integ;ated over several months 

to study the release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 

by algae. DOC was released at a rate ranging from 0.42 

to 1.54 mg of carbon per cubic meter per day (Fig. 10). 

The release of DOC accounts for approximately 5% of 

the total primary production in Lake Michigan and may 

provide a small portion of substrate which supports secondary (i.e., bacterial) production. 

Bacterial production may account for a significant 

portion of the total production in the Great Lakes (Fig. 

11). Therefore, information on bacterial dynamics is 

needed to understand and quantify the transfer of energy 

and nutrients through the food webs of the Great Lakes 

ecosystem. Analysis of 1983-84 field data indicates that 

bacterial growth rates range from 0.05 to 0.24 per hour 

and appear to be balanced by losses due to predation, at 

least during April and November when comparative 

measurements were made. Field work over the last year 

emphasized detailed measurements of the temporal and 

spatial patterns of abundance and production, and quantification of grazing losses. Substrate enrichment ex- 
Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics 

Time (months) I 

Figure 10. Release of dissolved organic carbon by algae in 

1984 as measured by accumulation of 14C in 0.22-pm filtrate 

after short-term incubations. 

0.16 - 

0.14 - 

0.12 - 

1 2 4 6 810 20 40 60 100 

Equivalent Spherical Diameter Gum) 

Figure 12. Particle spectra (particle concentration expressed as 

volume versus equivalent spherical diameter) of untreated periments with amino acids were conducted to deter- (Total) and acid-treated (+HCL) epilimnetic water from offmine whether ~ake ~ichigan bacteria were limited by shore Lake Michigan. The calcite spectrum (CaCO,) was deterorganic substrate or controlled by grazers. The results mined by subtracting the acid-treated spectrum from the 

suggest that grazers may provide more control of bac- untreated spectrum. The acid-treated spectrum represents the 

terial populations than do limiting concentrations of sub- food spectrum, that is, the organic seston available as food. 

strate. 

Ecological Effects of Calcite 

"Whiting" Events 

During late summer, calcite (calcium carbonate) 

crystals precipitate autogenically in Lake Michigan causing milky-colored water, or "whitings." Satellite imagery 

lr1il Phytoplankton 

2- - 20 

1 - Bacteria - lo 

n n 

u I u 

MJJASON 

Time (months) I 

Figure 11. Bacterial cell production (solid circles) and phytoplankton net production (triangles) in the epilimnion of Lake 

Michigan during the 1984 Lake Michigan Ecosystem Experiment. Open circles represent bacterial production rates from 

preliminary experiments in 1983. Bacterial production is based 

on incorporation of 3H-(methyl) thymidine, a precursor of DNA 

synthesis. Phytoplankton production is based on 14C uptake. 

has shown that these whitings occur in surface waters 

over most of Lake Michigan as well as in Lakes Huron, 

Erie, and Ontario. The precipitation occurs in response 

to an increased activity of the carbonate ion, caused by 

uptake of carbon dioxide by phytoplankton, and lowered calcium carbonate solubility caused by an increase 

in water temperature. Calcite whitings are most intense 

in September, when epilimnetic temperatures exceed 

20°C and pH values exceed 8.4. The abundance and 

size of calcite particles have not been well documented 

for lakes. Moreover, the ecological consequences are 

poorly defined, but potentially include: reduction of 

light transmission in the water column, sorption and sub 

sequent sinking of nutrients and trace contaminants on 

the calcite particles, and reduction of zooplankton food 

ingestion (i.e., zooplankton ingest calcite particles as 

food, but they have no nutritional value and pass 

through the organism without being of value, thus reducing the actual volume of viable food ingested). 

The calcite contribution to the particle pool was 

determined using a novel method employing a Coulter 

counter. The particle-size spectrum was determined 

twice for each sample: once using untreated (raw) lake 

water, and again for the same lake water but first treated 

with hydrochloric acid (HCI) to dissolve the carbonate 

minerals. The carbonate-free spectrum was then subtracted from the total spectrum, and the resulting 

difference-spectrum represented the carbonate component of the total spectrum (Fig. 12). The method was 

carefully developed and evaluated, and was used to 
Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynarnics 

1 2 4 6 810 20 3040 60 100i 

Equivalent Spherical Diameter (pm) 

Figure 13. Mean relative concentrations of particle number, 

volume (k SD), and surface area of calcite in the different size 

categories during September 1978 - 83. Surface area represents the capacity of a size category to sorb nutrients and trace 

contaminants. 

determine the calcite component during different seasons of the years 1978 - 83 and 1985. 

Whitings were most intense during September of 

each year, when calcite ranged from 12 - 56% of the 

total particle volume, depending on year. This year-toyear variation is believed to reflect a variation in primary 

production, which drives calcite precipitation through 

carbon dioxide uptake. The minimum, 12°/~ calcite by 

volume, occurred during September 1983 and may have 

resulted from abnormally low primary production in 

response to increased grazing pressure, the latter caused 

by changes in food web structure as a result of salmon 

stocking. 

 he shapes of the calcite particle size spectra from 

different years were similar, with the mode of the volume spectrum at 7 microns equivalent spherical diameter (Fig. 13). This conservatisn~ will be useful for designing experiments to test the effects of calcite on 

zooplankton feeding and to evaluate other potential 

impacts. For example, the modal diameter calcite particle will sink with its sorbed nutrients and trace contaminants at a rate of approximately 3 meters per day. Light 

extinction from scattering off calcite particles is expected 

to be only modest because scattering is most intense at 

about 1 micron and decreases rapidly with increased 

size thereafter. 

Nutrient and Energy Cycling 

'2 - 

Control 

Time (minutes) 

Figure 14. Results of a multiple substrate addition experiment 

showing that phosphorus-containing radiolabeled organic 

compounds (33Por,) produced by algae are rapidly taken up by 

heterotrophic bacteria in Lake Michigan. Uptake of 33Porg is 

unaffected by additions of inorganic phosphate (3lP,,,) and 

condensed inorganic polyphosphate (Pol y) but is severely 

reduced when phosphorus-containing carbohydrate esters (CP-Esters) are added. This shows that bacteria utilize the organic 

rather than the inorganic dissolved phosphorus pool. 

Modeling the phosphorus cycle requires a knowledge of the chemical composition of the dissolved phosphorus pool used by various organisms. The uptake of 

phosphorus by bacteria was investigated to determine if 

the pool for these organisms is primarily organic- or 

inorganic-bound phosphorus. A new approach was 

developed based on the use of phosphorus-33 labeled 

dissolved organic matter produced by algae. Bacterial 

uptake of the radiolabeled organic phosphorus was 

retarded by the addition of other organic-bound phosphorus compounds, but not by the addition of inorganicbound phosphorus, thus indicating that bacteria use the 

organically-bound phosphor~~s preferentially (Fig. 14). 

~hese findings provide an imprdved basis for modeling 

aquatic phosphorus dynamics. 

Simulation experiments on the effects of silicon limitation on phytoplankton species succession were performed to determine if limitation of this nutrient causes 

Information on the sources and fates of nutrients the shift from diatoms to blue-green and green algae in 

entering the photic zones from natural and anthro- Lake Michigan. The results showed that silicon limitation 

pogenic sources is required for proper evaluation of affects the ability of diatoms to utilize phosphorus, and 

the potential impact of changing these inputs to the thus triggers the shift to blue-green algae during summer. 

lakes. These findings provide a "nutrient-based" explanation 
Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics 

for seasonal successional patterns as well as quantitative 

insights into the construction of predictive multispecies 

phytoplankton models. 

Techniques to measure denitrification (conversion of 

ammonium and nitrate to nitrogen gas) in lake sediments 

were perfected and a field program to quantify this process in Lake Michigan sediments was initiated. Denitrification rates are needed to quantify the relative importance of invertebrates versus microbes in mineralizing 

detrital material (i.e., converting organic nutrients to 

inorganic forms) in the sediments. 

The lipid (fat) content of an organism is a measure 

of its stored energy; studies of the lipid content of 

lower-food chain organisms help us to follow and understand energy transformations and flow up the food 

chain. Measurements of the seasonal lipid content of 

four species of benthic invertebrates and Mysis relicta in 

southeastern Lake Michigan were completed (Fig. 15). 

These data were used to evaluate the role of these animals in transferring energy and organic contaminants 

from settling detritus to fish, and to increase our understanding of the ecological significance of these animals. 

Pontoporeia hoyi, M. relicta, and Chironomids, that feed 

on suspended material or surface detritus and microbes, 

tended to have higher and more variable lipid contents 

than the oligochaetes, tubificids, and Stylodrilus heringianus that feed on subsurface material. The invertebrates with relatively high lipid (energy) content are 

desirable prey species for small fish. 

Areal caloric contents of major benthic species in 

southern Lake Michigan were calculated by combining 

mean areal biomass data, obtained from the 1980 "longterm trend survey," with mean lipid and non-lipid ashfree dry weight data for the different species. These calculations indicated that Pontoporeia hoyi constitutes 

about 70% of the total caloric content of benthic invertebrates in southern Lake Michigan. A comparison of 

energy requirements, needed to support this population 

of P. hoyi, with inputs measured by sediment traps the 

same year indicates that P. hoyi could be metabolizing a 

substantial portion (up to 30%) of incoming available 

detritus. 

Studies to assess the importance of internal phosphorus regeneration in Lake St. Clair were begun as part 

of the Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study. 

Major mechanisms being evaluated include phosphorus 

release from sediments and phosphorus excretion by 

mussels. Microcosm experiments are being conducted to 

assess the importance of the release of phosphorus from 

sediments. Mussels represent a significant part of the 

biomass in Lake St. Clair, and therefore, excretion by 

these animals could be an imwortant mechanism for 

nutrient regeneration in this shallow lake. Seasonal mea- Figure , 5. Total lipid content, expressed as a percentage of 

surement of excretion rates, combined with biomass esti- ashefree d,,, weight, in ma,or species of ~~k~ ~i~hi~

mates of these organisms, will allow us to estimate the rnacroinvertebrates sampled in southeastern Lake Michigan 

quantitative importance of this process relative to other in 1984. Range bars = standard error. Numbers in parentheses 

input sources. represent the number of replicate animals analyzed. 

60 - Pontoporeia hoyi 

ill m 

20 - (10) (16) - 

0~ I I I I 1 I1 I I 1 

60 - 

- 40 

E 

- Stylodrilus heringianus 

- 

0, - 

a, 

E 

2 60r Tubificidae 

2 

+ 40- C 

a, 

2 

g 20 - 

.- C 0 

4- 0 

- 

- (3) (2) (2) 45 m (1) (10) 

56 ($mlee----q- fl m 1::; (5) (2) 

I I I I I I J (3) 

f? + 

60- 

c 

Chironomidae 

0 - 

9 

a 

7 

20 

0 1 I I1 I 11 I I 1 

60 - 

- Mysis relicta 

40 - 

11 I 1 I I I I 

MAMJJASOND 

Month 
Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics 

Figure 16. Abundance of Pontoporeia hoyi in southern Lake 

Michigan, based on surveys rnade in 1964-67 and in 

1980-81. At depths less than 50 m this species increased twoto five-fold between surveys. No increase was found at greater 

depths. 

Benthic Ecology 

Data collected for a long-term trend study on the 

benthos in southern Lake Michigan were checked, verified, and published in a NOAA data report. Statistical 

comparisons with earlier data indicated a general 

increase in several groups of benthic invertebrates 

between the mid 1960s and 1980-81 (Fig. 16). This 

seems to indicate a general increase in productivity 

during this period but may also reflect decreased 

predation on the benthos. Data from the same study 

indicated that Pontoporeia hoyi is the dominant benthic 

invertebrate in southern Lake Michigan, constituting 

about 65% of the benthic macroinvertebrate biomass. P. 

hoyi is also a major prey organism for fish in the upper 

Great Lakes. 

Research on the feeding habits and biochemistry1 

physiology of Pontoporeia hoyi is needed to better 

understand the ecology of the organism and to evaluate 

its role in transforming nutrients and energy from detritus 

to fish biomass. Studies of gut contents were conducted 

to gain insight into seasonal feeding habits of P. hoyi. 

The data indicate that individual P. hoyi often have only 

partially-filled guts, implying that feeding by this organism may be periodic rather than continuous (Fig. 17). 

Lipid extracts of P. hoyi and Stylodrilus heringianus, 

obtained by microextraction techniques developed at 

GLERL, were analyzed for lipid classes by scientists at 

Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS) using thin layer chromatography with flame ionization detection. These analyses indicated that most of the lipids in P. hoyi, but not in 

S. heringianus, were present as triglycerides, the energy 

storing compounds. Laboratory experiments at GLERL 

also indicated that P. hoyi could live at least 80 days 

without food. The ability of P. hoyi to store energy as 

lipids and to withstand long periods without food may 

help explain its ability to thr~ve in low-nutrient systems 

such as the upper Great Lakes. Further studies are 

planned to elucidate physiological characteristics of this 

important organism. 

A GLERL scientist participated in a project to explore 

the bottom of Lake Superior with a submersible (Fig. 18). 

Research focused on the geochemistry, biology, and 

physical processes in deep water areas. The GLERL scientist evaluated the efficiency of benthic sampling techniques and examined microdistributions of benthic 

invertebrates. An interesting finding was the occurrence 

of large numbers of Hydra, a freshwater relative of sea 

coral and jellyfish. Hydra were found attached to rocks 

at depths as great as 400 meters, the deepest part of Lake 

Superior. 
Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics 

, 

1 I7 0". 1983 120 1 27 Mar 1984 

m I 

-. . - 

., A 0 40 L4kh 40 

E: ..- o .- Empty o 0-1 - - 1 5 6-7 8-9 70-11 0 7-2 4-5 L t: d 10-11 

2 

r 28 June 1984 120 20 Aug. 1984 

Part, I 

I S~ze Class (mm) Srze Class (rnrnl Size Class (rnrn) I 

F~gurp 17. Results of a gut-fulln~~s qtudy of the arnph~poci Pontoporeia hovr in Lake M~ch~gan. Data indicate that the animal feeds 

intermittently rather then cont~nuuusly a$ do most d~pnc~t f~~d~ng amph~pods Th~s rntermittent feecl~ng mode may be [rnportanr to 

th~ cycling of toxic organic contaminant< hetween cpd~ments and overly~ng water. 

Figure 18. The Johnsoti SPA-Link was uscd during 1985 [ofor a 

NOAA-sponsored explornt~on ot Lake Suptrror using a 

rcwarch s~1bmer5ible. Th~s marked tllr first tlmP man has 

explor~d the greatest depths of I ake Superior i~rst hand. 
Lake Hydrology 

The availability of adequate supplies of fresh water 

is potentially one of the country's most serious longrange problems. The Great Lakes, with a total combined 

surface area of 247,000 square kilometers, contain 

23,000 cubic kilometers of water, or approximately 95% 

of the United States' fresh surface water. This water is 

used for drinking, industrial processes, hydropower, irrigation, transportation., and wildlife and fish habitat. 

Major changes in water quantity are caused by annual 

and seasonal variations in the water supply, consumptive 

use, and interbasin diversions. The usual measure of 

water quantity is the lake level of the individual lakes 

(Fig. 19). Over the past 120 years the levels have fluctuated over a range of about 2 meters, with a normal seasonal cycle of about 35 centimeters from winter minimum to summer maximum. Superimposed upon the 

natural fluctuations are a number of anthropogenic 

changes which have or could have major impacts on 

Great Lakes water quantity. During 1985 record high 

lake levels were set on Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, 

St. Clair, and Erie. GLERL's hydrologic research program 

is directed toward improving our knowledge of the 

hydrologic and hydraulic processes, improving methods 

of forecasting and simulating water supplies and lake 

levels, and improving large river dynamic flow models. 

The research assists in water resource ~lannine. and man- " 

agement and in the solution of proble;ns related to water 

supply, water quality, shore erosion, flooding, hydropower, navigation, and recreation. 

The seasonal ice and snow cover in the Great Lakes 

Diff. From 

Mean (ft) 

Precip. 

(mm) 

I Year I 

Figure 19. A plot of annual water level and precipitation on 

Lake Erie from 1900 - 1985. 

basin has a major impact on both the economic and 

social well-being of the community. It affects navigation, 

shoreline erosion and damage, hydropower generation, 

water supplies, fisheries, recreation, and local climate. 

Understanding, simulating, and forecasting the ice and 

snow cover require improved information on the formation, growth, movement, and decay of the ice cover; the 

extent, thickness, and water equivalent of the snow 

cover; a better definition of the characteristics of the 

snow and ice cover; and the development of numerical 

models depicting the processes governing freeze-up, 

areal extent, thickness, transport, and breakup of the ice 

cover and metamorphosis and ablation of the snow 

cover. 

Both the hydrologic and ice research include integrated programs of data collection, database develop 

rnent, analysis, model development and testing, simulation and prediction, and advisory services. 

Great Lakes Set Record High 

Lake Levels 

During spring 1985, record high lake levels were set 

on Lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, and Erie, surpassing the prior records set during 1973. New record 

high lake levels were again set in the fall on Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and St. Clair. GLERL scientists 

have been deeply involved in determining the hydrometeorological factors that contribute to record levels, by 

providing historical perspective, and by furnishing technical information for water management. Great Lakes 

water levels have been in a high regime for the past 15 

years, resulting in extensive damage around the perimeter of the lakes due to shore erosion and localized flooding (Fig. 20). The high levels are the result of a high 

precipitation regime which began about 1940, coupled 

with a low air temperature regime which began about 

1960 (Figs. 19 and 21 ). Lower air temperatures result in 

less evapotranspiration and lower evaporation, yielding 

higher runoff rates than would occur during warmer 

conditions. During the last 15 years precipitation has 

averaged considerably above the long-term average with 

relatively little variability, leading to the current record 

high levels as well as the prior records set in 1973. 

The persistence of the current high precipitation and 

low air temperature regimes, coupled with the slow 

response of the Great Lakes system, make it likely that 

the current high lake levels will continue for the next 

several years. 
Lake Hydrology 

Figure 20. Flooding due ta a storm surge in wPEtern Cake 'Erie during high lake levelf ~n 1979 (top). Erocion and damage on the 

eastern shore of Lake M~chigan caused by the combination of record hrgh water [PVPI~ and wlnter storm5 cjirring late 1985 ~bo~orn). 

-- - .- 
Lake Hydrology 

Year 

Figure 21. A plot of the mean annual air temperature over the 

Great Lakes since 1900. 

Water Supply and Levels: 

Forecast Development 

for ~ana~ement 

G LERL finished a semi-automatic software package 

which uses meteorologic data in near-real-time to predict 

water supplies to Lake Superior. Great Lakes water levels 

have been above normal for several recent years and on 

Lake Superior have exceeded the internationally agreed 

to maximum of 602 feet. The United States and Canada 

regulate Lake Superior outflows to directly control flooding, hydropower, and navigation on Lakes Superior, 

Michigan, and Huron, as well as to indirectly control the 

same on Lakes St. Clair and Erie. The regulation plan 

presently uses trend extrapolation for supply forecasts; 

this does not consider weather prediction nor does it 

account for the effects of moisture in storage. 

The water supply outlook package integrates near 

real-time data acquisition and reduction, and conceptual 

modeling (Fig. 22). It incorporates National Weather Service (NWS) monthly and seasonal weather forecast outlooks and current basin moisture conditions; the latter 

includes snowpack water equivalents from the joint 

United States-Canadian aerial gamma radiation surveys. 

The NWS forecasts are issued each month to national 

and international water management agencies; experimental GLERL forecasts issued in June and July were the 

only ones to successfully indicate the possibility that 

Lake Superior could exceed the 602-foot level during 

autumn. GLERL developed a new algorithm and data 

structures for rapid reduction of meteorologic data either 

from archival sources (module 1) or as they become 

available in near real-time (module 4). For an example 

station network on Lake Superior, the algorithm is 93% 

faster than prior methods. Modules 2, 4, and 6 use 

GLERL's conceptual rainfall-runoff model, which proFigure 22. Conceptual logic flow chart for making water supply outlooks for a large lake. Typically, modules 0, 1, 2, and 3 

are performed only infrequently on a large computer in order 

to prepare the models, data, and data bases for use with modules 4, 5, and 6 on other, perhaps smaller, computers in the 

forecast office. Modules 1 - 3 may be repeated as new historic 

data becomes available every 2 to 3 years; module 4 is 

repeated as new provisional data becomes available from the 

field in near-real-time every day or week; and modules 5 and 6 

are repeated as new water supply outlooks are desired. 

Module 

Number 

duces a 0.96 correlation with actual monthly runoff for 

the Lake Su~erior basin. GLERL designed ~rocedures to 

0 

incorporate' the weather forecastini exiertise of the 

NWS (module 5) in determi ning forecast sequences, 

while preserving spatial and temporal interdependencies 

of meteorologic variables. The package produces 6- 

month forecasts of expected basin runoff, net water supplies, lake levels, and basin moisture storages, with hisPrepare Digital Basin Map 

toric quantiles for perspective. 

At the request of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

(Detroit District), GLERL installed the algorithm and data 

structures for rapid reduction of meteorologic data (modules 0- 2) on their mainframe computer. Modules 3 - 6 

(for making Lake Superior water supply outlooks) and 

other routines for reducing snow data from the joint 

United States-Canadian aerial gamma surveys were 

installed on their Harris minicomputer. 

The NWS Northeast River Forecast Center (NRFC), 

1 

2 

Areally Reduce 

Historic Data 

t 

Calibrate 

Models 

* 

N 0 

Initialize Provisional * 

3 Data Bases 

Update Provisional 4 Data Bases 

5 Forecast 

Meteorology 

6 

t 

Forecast Runoff 

and Lake Levels 

1 

* Required initially and optional subsequently 
Lake Hydrology 

which has forecast responsibility for Lake Champlain 

(New York), requested that a similar water supply and 

forecast model be developed for use on Lake Champlain. 

GLERL designed and developed a package to meet their 

needs and installed it on the NWS NRFC Data General 

Nova Eclipse microcomputer during FY 1985. 

Seasonal lnf luences on River Flows 

The field measurement program using current 

meters in the St. Clair River was expanded to the Detroit 

River (August 1984), providing the first year of simultaneous measurements on both rivers with electromagnetic meters (two on each river). The St. Clair River 

installation was augmented (November 1984) with the 

addition of a Doppler acoustic current profiler, which 

provided measurements of river velocities over the 

entire water column at 1-meter intervals. Because of a 

relatively mild 1984-85 winter season, there were no 

spectacular ice jams on the rivers and the first simultaneous winter flow measurements did not contribute significantly to the solution of winter flow problems related to 

the effects of ice cover and ice jams. Velocity measurements were continued in both rivers throughout the summer season in order to study the effects of weeds. These 

studies showed that the electromagnetic current meters 

are poorly suited for prolonged measurements in rivers 

which have high concentrations of floating debris, 

including weeds. These meters are oriented vertically 

and present a tall profile to flowing debris which accumulates around the sensor and reduces its sensitivity to 

water movement. We observed velocity reductions of up 

to 7O0Io because of weed accumulation on these meters. 

In contrast, the acoustic profiler, which is oriented horizontally, presents a relatively small profile to debris and 

was generally not prone to debris accumulation. The 

acoustic profiler provided high quality velocity data over 

the water column (from approximately 2 meters above 

the bottom to 1 meter below the surface). A smooth 

exponential (logarithmic) distribution of vertical velocities was observed, verifying theoretical derivations. 

Spectral Reflectances of Ice and Snow 

Winter field work to characterize the spectral reflectance of snow and freshwater ice types was continued 

during FY 1985. Additional airborne reflectance measurements (400- l ,100 nanometers) were made using a 

programmable band radiometer. With helicopter sup 

port provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, the instrument 

was used to make measurements of the spectral reflectance of open water, deteriorated snow, and three ice 

types prevalent on Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, during 

clear sky conditions in the latter part of March 1985. 

Measurements were made from an altitude of 300 

meters, at which the detected area was approximately 80 

meters in diameter and approximates the area of a Landsat multispectral scanner pixel (56 meters by 79 meters). 

Owing to the spatial integration of reflectances obtained 

over heterogeneous ice types, this airborne measurement closely approximates the surface reflectance 

sensed from satellite altitudes. However, such measurements are subject to possible errors due to atmospheric 

attenuation and path radiance factors. Correction factors 

for atmospheric attenuation and path radiance were 

derived using calibration panel measurements and measurements of snow and open water made both on the 

ground and from an altitude of 300 meters, and applied 

to the data. Application of these corrections resulted in a 

slight increase in the average reflectance from the types 

of environmental surfaces measured (Fig. 23). 

Satellite imagery can be used to monitor over-lake 

ice albedos and to identify and map Great Lakes ice 

types (Fig. 24). Moreover, once geometrically corrected, 

satellite imagery can be machine interpreted using airborne reflectance data as ground truth. Measurement 

sites can be located in the imagery and the digital numbers of the respective types can be abstracted and used 

to identify all similar types in the scene. This in turn can 

be used to correct satellite-derived albedos for atmospheric attenuation and path radiance, to help determine 

data requirements, and to direct future data collection. 

Future analyses will include deriving and categorizing 

average overlake albedos, calculating percent of lake 

covered by each category, analyzing the temporal and 

spatial changes of ice albedos, and machine-assisted 

identification and mapping of Great Lakes ice types. 

Cooling Season Temperature 

Climatology of Lake Superior 

A temperature climatology was developed for the 

surface and ten 10-meter layers along the normal ship 

route between the eastern and western ends of Lake 

Superior and for discrete areas along the ship route. The 

base period for the climatology includes the 1973 - 76 

winter and 1976- 79 fall seasons. Daily average temperatures and extreme temperatures for the base period 

were calculated, and a six-wave Fourier equation was 

fitted to the average temperature time series to define the 

temperature climatology. Products of this analysis 

include tabular and graphical summaries of the climatology, tabulations of the Fourier equation coefficients, and 

an online copy of the climatology on GLERL'S computer. 

The temperature data base used for analysis of the climatology is being used to evaluate the effects of the thermal 

expansion of Lake Superior's waters on the change-instorage component of the water balance of that lake. 

These data will also have future applications to develop 

ment of an operational technique to forecast water tem- 
Lake Hydrology 

0 

400 500 600 700 800 900 I000 1100 

Wavelength (nm) 

tigurc ~rl. win and deterlorated snow on Saginaw Bay 

(20 March 1985) as v~~wed from an altitude of 300 m 

(above). The averaged spectr~l reflectances (400 - 1,100 

nrn) from th~s image, both before and after making a 

correction for atmoqpheric attenuation and path radiance, i~ plotted in the graph (left). The correction 

resulted in a slight increase in the average reflectance. 

perature decline and time of initial ice formation wing new ice forecasting tool5. One result of these meetings 

the thermal structure forecast models being developed. was th~ development of an interactive computer prm 

gram to forecaqt the date of ice formation, ice thickness, 

and date of ice breakup at specific locations on the St. 

Operational St. Marys Rivt Marys River. This sohare is based on a technique 

devela~~d earlier which uses site-swecific heat transfer 

Ice Forecast coeffic~ents and observed water temperatures at Sault 

SEe. Marie, Michrgan, for Ice formation, a Stefan analysis 

A series of meetings between GLERL and the NwS of observed ice thickness and accumulated freezing 

Forecast Office in Ann Arbor were held during FY 1985 d~gr~edavs IFDDS) for ice thickness, and a correlation 

to identify how 10- 20 years of ice and hydrorneteorol- of the observed breakup date with dates of maximum ice 

ogy data archived by CLERL can be used to update cur- thickness and date of maximum FDDS for ice breakup. 

rent NWS ice forecasting procedures and to develop The NWS has access to CLERL's computer and will use 
Lake Hydrology 

Figure 24. Unsupervised CIUS~P~ analysis (machine interpretat~on) of ice alhedos on Lake Erle, uslng NUAA-7 AVHRR digital 

imagery. Dark tones indicate low aibedo, llght tones ind~cate high albedo. 

the St. Marys River ice forecasting software on an ex- extent on the Great Lakes and products similar to the St. 

perimental basis during the 7 985 - 86 winter season. Mays River ice forecast software for specific hays and 

In the future, other products will likely include im- harbors and for other connecting channels of the Great 

proved aids for forecasts of initial ice formation and Fce Lakes. 
Physical Lirnnology and Meteorology 

The Physical Limnology and Meteorology Group 

studies the physical variables that describe a lake environment and the way they change with external forces, 

with the ultimate goal of improved prediction of water 

movements, physical hazards, and contaminant transport. The relevant variables are currents, temperatures, 

waves, and water level fluctuations. The primary driving 

forces are the wind acting on a lake surface, the heat 

exchanged between a lake and the atmosphere, and 

riverflows. Currents and temperatures in a lake influence 

biological and chemical processes and determine the 

distribution of pollutants. Waves and water level oscillations are hazards that may result in loss of lives and in 

damage to shoreline property, shipping, and recreational 

activities. GLERL makes measurements and develops 

models that improve prediction of these variables for the 

Great Lakes (Fig. 25). Such measurements and models 

will allow estimates to be made of the chemical and 

biological properties of the lakes that are important in 

waste disposal, power generation, fisheries management, and water supply planning. In addition, they will 

result in improved forecast models for prediction of hazards from waves and water level fluctuations. 

The time scales of the variables that need to be measured and predicted range from years to seconds. The 

space scales range from the size of the lake down to a 

few meters. In view of these tremendous ranges over 

time and space, the various phenomena must be separated according to their scales if we are to understand 

and model them better. Hence, research in the Physical 

Limnology and Meteorology Group is in the areas of 

water movements and temperature, which encompass 

Observed Circulation 

I 

Model Circulation 

TgBp&3 

Figure 25. Comparison of observed and modeled circulation 

patterns in Lake Erie during a 5day period in September 1979. 

Both patterns show clockwise circulation throughout the lake. 

studies of lakewide and nearshore circulation, seasonal 

changes in circulation, therrnal structure, and upwelling; 

and surface waves, water level fluctuations, and marine 

winds, which deal with wind-generated waves, storm 

surges, and seiches. Both areas of research involve prediction on a real-time basis as well as climatological 

studies. 

The approach used in studying the above problems 

is a combination of experimental (laboratory and field), 

theoretical, and modeling efforts. Experimental data provide information on what happens in the lake. Theoretical studies predict new phenomena and help plan new 

experiments. Modeling studies incorporate the important physical processes into governing mathematical 

equations and extrapolate the equations over time to 

predict the future state of the lake. Experimental data, in 

turn, can validate the accuracy of these predictions. 

Water Movements and Temperature 

Preparation continued for a special volume of the 

Journal of Great Lakes Research that will update the 

trophic status of Lake Erie. This volume, which is being 

produced jointly by GLEKL and the National Water 

Research Institute (NWRI) of Canada, will summarize the 

status of the lake's ecosystem 10 years after completion 

of Project Hypo-the last major measurement program. 

It will document the interrelationships of lake physics 

with chemistry and biology. 

Research on the basic physical variables in Lake 

Erie, including water temperature distribution, current 

velocity, and lake surface wind stress, was performed 

jointly by United States and Canadian scientists. Some of 

the contributions by GLERL scientists include develop 

ment of a method for hindcasting the surface wind stress 

distribution from recordings of lake level variations and a 

description of the dominant circulation patterns in the 

central basin. Objectively analyzed currents have been 

compared with those simulated with circulation models, 

and methods to compare forecast and observed current 

trajectories were also developed. The annual temperature cycle in the central basin was documented in great 

detail and the results have been useful in describing temperature variations in other- years when data collections 

were meager. Stratification and its intensity and duration 

control whether or not the lake experiences oxygen deficiency in the bottom water each year; the concentration 

of dissolved oxygen is critical in determining the health 

of the bottom fauna. 

In another study, time-series analyses of current 

velocities recorded in Lake Michigan from mid 1982 to 

mid 1983 (Fig. 26) have revealed that a permanent 4- 

day-period rotational wave found earlier in the southern 

basin of the lake is trapped within that basin. Outside of 
Physical Limnology and Meteorology

!. \ ,-

",.,. .

Figure 26. GlERl field party deploying an acoustic current

meter in lake Michigan.

the basin the wave-induced current oscillations of that

period are either very weak or absent. Trapping of the

rotational wave mode energy within the basin suggests

that other lake or ocean basins may possess similar

trapped oscillations of unique characteristics, and may

simplify dynamical simulation of local area processes.

Studies of the bottom boundary layer have established the characteristics of a bottom Ekman layer in

southern Lake Michigan. A vertical profile of current

meters deployed near the bottom in 100 meters of water

revealed the layer, which was about 20 meters thick. The

velocity vector rotated in a counterclockwise fashion

(when viewed from above) as the bottom was

approached, with most of the Ekman veering occurring

within the lower 10 meters. Current speed profiles were

logarithmic. Simulations of sediment transport within

Lake Michigan have shown sensitivity to the bottom

Ekman layer structure. These observations will allow fine

tuning of the estimates for physical parameters used in

model development.

1983

a .

- -1

E

~-2

.c

1:: -3

o

Z -4

-5 ~31 ~6 -- .-"'.......... -- -- -6' -- -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 a

East (km)

+ Dye Center of Mass

- Drifter Cluster

5 1984

4

33

~--

/

/

/

/

/ // 29 /

/

:§ 2

[

.~ ~ 1

'

0

' + 8

o~ + 6

-1

a

-

E 3 ~

-

1 234

East (km)

5 6

Figure 27. Idealized dye field versus drifter cluster positions

during the 1983 and 1984 experiments in lake Michigan. The

length of the major and minor axes of the dye patch ellipses are

equal to twice the standard deviation of the dye distribution in

those directions divided by the total mass of the dye measured.

Cluster positions versus time are indicated by the shaded areas.

Analyses of the experiments designed to estimate

the water-following ability of satellite-tracked surface

drifters were completed during FY 1985. The experiments were performed in 1983 and 1984 and consisted

of monitoring the spatial separation of a cluster of drifters

and a patch of fluorescent Rhodamine Bdye (Fig. 27). If

the drifters were to track a given parcel of water exactly,

then the center of mass of a suitably tagged (dyed in this

case) water parcel and the centroid of a cluster of drifters

should remain coincident with each other independent

of time. However, wind effects on the exposed portion

27
Physical Limnology and Meteorology 

of the drifter and the drifter's response to surface waves 

contribute to the drifter's "slipping" with respect to the 

neighboring water. The results of the experiments indicated that under light wind and wave conditions slippage is well described by elementary slippage theory. 

Therefore, slippage estimates can be readily made by 

knowing the wind speed and buoy and drogue geometry. This enables easier decontamination of drifter data 

and should make the data more useful for model verification efforts. The ability to estimate slippage is a prerequisite to using drifter data as a verification tool for a 

particle trajectory model developed by GLERL and used 

for search and rescue operations by the U.S. Coast 

Guard and as an aid in the cleanup of spills of environmental contaminants. 

Attempts are currently being made to simulate the 

vertical temperature structure of Lakes Erie and Michigan 

(Fig. 28). The Lake Erie temperature data were collected 

0 bserved 

15 - 

-- 25- I I I I 

- E May June ~uly Aug Sept 

5 

P 

a, Simulated 

n o10 

20 - 

25 I I I I 

May June ~uly ~ug Sept 

Time (months) 

Figure 28. Plot of temperature isotherms representing 

observed and modeled lake-wide average conditions in the 

central basin of Lake Erie in 1979. 

in 1979 at several locations within the lake as part of a 

larger effort involving current and meteorological measurements by both Canadian and GLERL scientists. The 

Lake Michigan data sets are from 1981 and 1982 and 

were obtained by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center 

(NDBC) from a moored buoy in central southern Lake 

Michigan. 

Four different one-dimensional models are being 

compared for their ability to simulate the temperature 

data from these lakes. The models span the possible 

mechanisms by which entrainment and thus deepening 

of the thermocline may occur. The potential implications 

of the models with respect to vertical mixing are dramatic. For example, the predicted response of a stratified 

lake to a storm event can vary from an isothermal water 

column to one that is strongly stratified, depending on 

the model employed. And when used in conjunction 

with mass balance models, large differences in the calculated mass fluxes may result, producing large biases in 

simulated concentration fields. Therefore, this work 

attempts to identify the best thermal model applicable to 

the Great Lakes (if one exists) and to define its limits of 

application based upon an understanding of the governing physics. 

Much of the research on the physics of the Great 

Lakes has been directed toward the large deep basins, 

while relatively little attention has been focused on the 

small shallow settling basins such as Lake St. Clair. This 

lack of attention encompasses both theoretical develop 

ments as well as physical measurements. However, shallow basins such as Lake St. Clair form a crucial link in the 

Great Lakes system. Lake St. Clair is a depositional basin 

with the world's largest freshwater delta system and sedimentation rates which are enormous on oceanographic 

scales. Hence, detailed knowledge of the response of 

this body of water to atmospheric forcing, in terms of 

both its current and wave fields, is a key link to understanding the resuspension and transport of materials 

accumulating in this basin, which are eventually discharged to the lower Great Lakes system. It is therefore 

of great importance to develop a physical understanding 

of the processes in operation so that reliable and accurate predictions of the dynamics of this basin can be 

formulated. 

To accomplish this goal, as part of GLERL's participation in the Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels 

Study (UGLCCS), three week-long synoptic current surveys were conducted in Lake St. Clair to observe and 

measure flow throughout the basin under calm and 

storm wind conditions. The primary areas of interest 

were identified as the flow out of Anchor Bay, the flow 

in and around the shipping channel, and the flow north 

of Sandy Point, Ontario. Based upon predicted circulation patterns for all wind directions, a scheme of 11 

current monitoring stations was devised to capture these 

critical flow fields. In addition, stations within Anchor 

Bay surrounding the St. Clair River delta and stations on 

transects of the shipping channel were identified and 
Physical Limnology and Meteorology 

LAKE ST: CLAlR 

A 

Anchor .) 

EYren* iH$J&Q Survey 

0 

Current 

Post-Storm 0 

Wave 

Monitoring 

Stations 

Figure 29. Locations of current measurement stations during 

the three synoptic current surveys of Lake St. Clair for the 

UGLCCS, and wave monitoring stations operated by GLERL 

and NWRl for the WAVEDISS '85 experiment. 

sampled (Fig. 29). The surveys were conducted utilizing 

a Marsh-McBirny 527 electron~agnetic current meter and 

a Hewlett-Packard data acquisition system. Time series 

of 128 measurements were made at 0.5-second intervals 

at 1 meter below the surface, at mid-depth, and 1 meter 

above the bottom. In areas where the depth was less than 

3 meters, one mid-depth series was obtained. 

Analysis of this data set will involve comparison of 

the measured currents to currents predicted by numerical circulation models for the wind conditions present 

during the surveys, as recorded by both the survey vessel 

and NWRl meteorological stations in place in Lake St. 

Clair at that time. The data will also be compared to 

experimental results from a table-size scale model of the 

lake. Suggestions for model improvement will be made 

based upon this analysis. 

GLERL's Pathfinder Trajectory Prediction System 

continued to be the primary tool used by the U.S. Coast 

Guard and the NOAA Hazardous Materials Response 

Team to predict the movement of oil spills, boats, or 

other floating matter in the Great Lakes and to focus 

search and rescue operations. During FY 1985, testing of 

this model against GLERL's library of drifter buoy tracks 

was started. By systematically comparing observed 

tracks with the Pathfinder model's predictions, we will 

be able to adjust certain parameters in the model to 

make it a more accurate predictive tool. 

During spring 1983, three drifter buoys entered an 

area in central Lake Michigan in which a closely-spaced 

network of current meters was moored. A comparison of 

the two different types of current measurements has 

revealed a surprising degree of similarity. A simple wind 

correction of less than l0lo des a reasonable job of 

explaining the difference between them. 

Drifter buoys have also proven quite useful in Lake 

St. Clair and river plume studies. As part of the UGLCCS, 

drifting buoys were used to measure surface currents in 

Lake St. Clair. The resulting tracks will be used to verify 

models of lake circulation and sediment transport. 

GLERL is also participating with NWRl in a continuing 

study of the physics of the Niagara River plume by 

deploying and tracking drifting buoys in western Lake 

Ontario. 

Surface Waves, Water Level 

Fluctuations, and Marine Winds 

Some of the most heavily populated and most 

intensely utilized areas of the Great Lakes are also the 

shallowest (Lake St. Clair, Green Bay, Saginaw Bay, and 

western Lake Erie for example). Although wave forecast 

methods for deep water are well-developed, shallow 

water wave forecasting is still in its infancy. A highquality over-lake meteorological data system and other 

physical measurement systems deployed in Lake St. Clair 

for UGLCCS provided a perfect opportunity to measure 

wave dissipation and the effect of waves on resuspension in shallow water. To make these measurements, 

scientists from GLERL, NWRI, and the Atmospheric Environment Service of Canada planned a joint program for 

fall 1985 implementation entitled Wave Attenuation, 

Variability, and Energy Dissipation in Shallow Seas 

(WAVEDISS '85). 

GLERL and NWRl each established three stations in 

the eastern half of the lake (Fig. 29). The GLERL stations 

consist of a single Zwarts transmission wave staff and 

Datawell Waverider radio transmitter. The NWRl stations consist of a triangular array of capacitance wave 

gauges, a cup anemometer, and a SeaData recording 

package. The instrumentation systems are attached to 

towers which are guyed to a base anchored with ailr road 

wheels (Fig. 30). The towers were deployed along a transect parallel to the prevailing storm wind direction. One 

tower was deployed on a perpendicular leg to give an 

indication of cross-transect variability. The triangular 

array of capacitance gauges on the NWRl stations provided wave direction estimates in addition to the wave 

energy spectrum. The experiment will run from midSeptember 1985 to the end of November 1985 in order 

to avoid the heavy boating traffic and still cover the fall 

storm season. 

Analysis of the data during FY 1986 will include (1 ) 

selection of appropriate episodes for study of wave dissipation effects, (2) spectral analysis of wave measurements, (3) calculation of wave dissipation based on differences in the wave spectra, and (4) comparison with 

existing theories of wave dissipation in shallow water. In 
Physical Limnology and Meteorology 

Figure 30. GLf RL wave measurement tower bwng deployed in 

Lake St. Clair. 

addition, comparisons will be made with deep water 

th~ory In order to expl~crtly determine the relative 

importance of shallow water ~ff~cts. It Fs expected that 

these results will be incorporated into exist~ng wavc forecast models or that new models will be developed to 

improv~ wave forecasts for shallow water areas in the 

Great Lakes and elsewhere. 

Marine weather forecasters at the NWS Great Lakes 

Weather Service Forecast Offices (WSFO) continued to 

use the GLERL Interactive Wave Prediction Model wlth 

favorable comments. At the request of the Clev~land 

WSFO, an air-sea temperature difference parameter was 

added to the forecast program; the usefuln~sr. of this 

additional parameter is being evaluated. 

Since 1981, the NOAX NDBC has deployed eight 

NOMAD buoys during the ice-free season in the Cr~at 

Lakes for surface wave and meteorological measurements. The NOMAD buov has a 6-meter boat-shaped 

hull developed by the Navy for oceanic appl~catlons. 

The data cotlectrd by thew buoys have been used by 

Figure 37. Comparison of significant wave heights reported by 

NDBC NOMAD buoy 45005 and GLERL Waverider buoy In 

Lake Er~e during September- November 1984. 

NWS, the U.S. Coast Guard, commercial and recreat~onal boatlng interests, as well as by CLERL for research 

on the marine environment in the Great Lakes. In September 1984, CLERL deploy~d a satellitp-reporting 

Waverider buoy in the western part of the central basin 

of Lake Erie within 1 kilometer of the NDBC NOMAD 

weather buoy 45005. The Waverider has a 1-meter 

spherical hull with a vertically-stabillzed accelerometer 

for measuring waves. T~F. Waverider system has been 

used extensively for wave measurements in a wide variety of environments. The Waverrder buoy and the 

NOMAD buoy remained in close proximity for 3 months 

(September-November). During this period, over 1,000 

pairs of wave height, wavtl period, and sea surface temperature observations were obtained from the two plafforms (Fig. 31 1. In addition, several wave frequency spectra wprp calculated from nearly s~rnultaneous wave data. 

A detailed statlstical analysis was made for all pairs 

of Waverider and NOMAD buoy significant waveheight 

reports. The correlation between the measurements is 

~xtremely high (correlation coefficient 0.99, standard 

error 0.05 meters). The main differences between the 

two measurement syctemr were that (I) the NOMAD 

buoy reported waveheights significantly lower than the 

Waverider buoy for waveheights less than 0.5 meters 

and (2) there is an indi~~~tion that the NOMAD buov 

reports slightly higher waveheights than the Waverider 

buoy for waveheights greater than 1.5 meters; there 

were, however, onlv a few measurements in the 1.5- to 
Physical Limnology and Meteorology 

2-meter range during the observation period. Accurately 

measuring and forecasting 0.5-meter waves may be 

more important in the Great Lakes than in the open seas 

because of the greater number of small craft that can be 

impacted by even these small waveheights. GLERL and 

NDBC are currently investigating techniques that might 

improve the accuracy of the NOMAD waveheight 

reports for low waveheights. 

A study of shallow water effects on the wind wave 

spectrum representation was also completed during FY 

1985. We made an objective assessment of three wave 

spectrum formulas for shallow water which are available 

in the literature. We compared wave spectra estimated 

by these formulas with those calculated from actual field 

measurements made in Lake Erie during 1981 in depths 

ranging from 1.4 to 14.0 meters. We found that the 

models each have various degrees of effectiveness and 

applicability. It appears that the form of the spec+d rep 

resentation remains similar at all depths, with depth 

affecting only the wave parameters that characterize the 

form of the spectrum. The choice of which model to use 

is basically subjective, although it may depend upon the 

availability of the required input parameters, which is 

quite different for the different models. The most encouraging result from this study however, is that the depthdependent factors derived for the oceans are very effective in characterizing depth effects of wind waves in 

shallow water. This factor is especially useful in develop 

ing modifications to established deep-water wave 

models for shallow-water applications. 
Environmental Systems Studies 

Management of the Great Lakes is a complex and 

formidable task. Decis~on makers in government and private institutions are confronted with multiple goals, 

often conflicting, from which they must try to achieve 

fair and balanced policies. Among these Great Lakes 

goals are enhancement of commercial and sports fisheries, attainment of desired water quality, rational consumptive use and diversions of lake water, encouragement of recreation and tourism, and sensible use of the 

lakes for transportation, mining, hydropower, and waste 

disposal. The multiple-use nature of the Great Lakes 

necessitates that frameworks be built within which tradeoffs among goals can be examined; building such frameworks is a central focus of the Environmental Systems 

Studies Group. Utiliz~ng optimization, uncertainty, and 

risk analysis techniques, and ecosystem-contaminant 

fate and behavior models, the Environmental Systems 

Studies Group addresses questions concerning (1) the 

effects of management alternatives and human-induced 

changes on Great Lakes ecosystems, (2) risks to ecosystem health posed by contaminants, and (3) the costeffectiveness of environmental management strategies. 

Research conducted by the Environmental Systems 

Studies Group is directed toward understanding and 

optimizing relationships between the human, economic, 

and ecological systems of the Great Lakes region. By 

necessity, this group draws heavily on the knowledge 

generated by other groups, both inside GLERL and from 

outside the laboratory. Research covers a variety of temporal and spatial scales dictated by the questions under 

investigation. Central to the Environmental Systems 

Studies approach is the premise that cost-effective management of the Great Lakes requires that they be managed as an integrated svstem: management actions 

applied to one lake or one use can affect other lakes or 

other uses. For example, a fisheries management plan for 

Lake Michigan should not be developed without taking 

into account the effects it will have on Lake Huron fisheries. Nor should a contaminant control program be 

implemented without first determining the most costeffective method that will lead to desired objectives. 

Optimization Models: 

An Aid to Resource Management 

Optimization, uncertainty, and risk analysis techniques are important tools used by the Environmental 

Systems Studies Group. Although used sparingly to date, 

these techniques can and should play a key role in environmental decision-making processes, just as they do in 

the decision-making processes that lead to the safe and 

cost-effective design of buildings and bridges. For example, architectural engineers must design structures so 

that the risk (i.e., the probability) of building collapse 

and associated fatalities is minimized during earthquakes. Similarly, environmental managers should 

design cost-effective management plans that minimize 

the risk of decreased water quality and related harm to 

economically important fish species. In toxic contaminant fate and behavior models, risk comes from two 

sources: that attributable to the toxic effects of the contaminant and that resulting from uncertainty about the 

transport and interactions of the contaminant with ecosystem components. By assigning probability distributions that define the uncertainty associated with each of 

these areas, the output of the model will also become 

probabilistic. Predictions from such models indicate the 

probability that an undesirable event will occur for a 

given set of input conditions. This gives the environmental manager the option of comparing relative risks among 

alternative management options. 

Environmental uncertainty and economic constraints must be considered when designing plans that 

minimize the risk of undesirable environmental events. 

Phosphorus management in the Great Lakes provides an 

excellent vehicle for demonstrating an approach which 

considers uncertainty and economic constraints within 

an optimization framework. The International Joint Commission has recommended desirable phosphorus concentrations for the Great Lakes and has also recommended a plan (1978 Agreement) to attain these 

concentrations. The plan suggests that a number of point 

and diffuse phosphorus reduction measures be implemented in each of the basins. During FY 1985 the efficacy of this plan and others was examined and compared using a coupled-basin phosphorus mass balance 

model that quantitatively accounts for the effects of realistic, time and space variable phosphorus loading and 

particle settling rates on predicted phosphorus concentrations. The results showed that the probability of attaining desired phosphorus levels varies from basin to basin 

and is quite low under some management strategies (Fig. 

32). Management strategies tested were: 

No Additional Treatment: 

maintains mid-1 970 treatment levels; 

Non-stochastic Optimization: 

optimal treatment capacities determined for average phosphorus loading and settling rates; 

1978 Agreement: 

International Joint Commission strategy; 

Maximum Projected Treatment: 

maximum capacities thought possible; 

Worst Case Optimization: 

treatment capacities determined for stochastic 

phosphorus loading and settling ratesrecommended capacities would always achieve 

desired phosphorus concentrations; 
Environmental Systems Studies 

7 Probability ('10) - bars I 

0 100 

No Additional Capacity.. 

Non-Stochastic. ......... Optimization 

1978 Agreement ......... 

Maximum Projected ..... Treatment 

Worst Case Optimization 

Stochastic Optimization - Average Capacity 

Added Basin Cost+ 0 5 lo 15 0 25 50 75 

($106 / years) - lines 

No Additional Capacity.. I 

Non-Stochastic ......... Optimization 

1978 Agreement.. .....*a 

Maximum Projected ...*a 

Treatment 

Stochastic Optimization - Average Capacity 

0 25 50 75 0 150 300 0 50 100 0 14 28 0 50 100 150 

Added Basin Cost ($106 / years) - lines 

Figure 32. Probabilities (bars) of reaching desired phosphorus concentrations in each of 11 Great Lakes basins under different 

phosphorus treatment scenarios. Basin-specific costs (over mid-1 970 levels) for each treatment scenario are indicated by lines. Basin 

designations are: 1-Lake Superior, 2-lower Green Bay, 3-upper Green Bay, 4-Lake Michigan, 5-Georgian Bay, 6-Saginaw 

Bay, 7-Lake Huron, 8-western Lake Erie, 9-central Lake Erie, 10-eastern Lake Erie, and 11-Lake Ontario. 

Stochastic Optimization Average Capacity: 

the average of all optimal treatment capacities that 

were determined for stochastic conditions. 

The combination of phosphorus reduction measures 

and their spatial distribution needed to achieve desired 

phosphorus concentrations under realistic (probabilistic) 

environmental conditions was determined using a 

dynamic optimization approach. A least-cost method 

was identified that will, with 100% probability, lead to 

the attainment of desired phosphorus concentrations in 

all basins. This plan (Worst Case Optimization) shifts the 

emphasis of recommended treatment measures from 

those previously recommended (Fig. 33) and decreases 

basin-specific costs of phosphorus load reductions in 

some instances. However, annual costs for all of the 

Great Lakes would be expected to rise by 48% if 100°/o 

attainment of desired phosphorus concentrations is an 

unwavering goal. Studies presently underway suggest, 

however, that costs can be reduced even below levels 

required by the 1978 Agreement and its subsequent 

amendments, if a very small risk of sub-optimal phosphorus concentrations occurring is considered acceptable. These results suggest (1) that changes will be necessary in recommended phosphorus reduction strategies if 

the goal is 100% success in meeting desired phosphorus 
Environmental Systems Studies 

Point Source 

8 000 I 

Primary 

Treatment 

l:zl Secondary .-at,n;W 

0 

Tertiary 

n 

Diffuse Rural p 

Stage One 

Stage 

11.1 - -,a_- Two 

alaye, - O t~hree -- nnn a=- 

KEY 

1 = Lake Superior 

2 = Lower Green Bay 

3 = Upper Green Bay 

4 = Lake Michigan 

5 = Georgian Bay 

6 = Saginaw Bay 

7 = Lake Huron 

8 = Western Lake Erie 

9 = Central Lake Erie 

10 = Eastern Lake Erie 

11 = Lake Ontario 

Diffuse Urban I 

-loo :F-l Stage One 

200 

-100 

Stage Two 

- 200 

Lake Basin Number (see key) I 

Figure 33. Recommended changes in treatment capacities in order to achieve a 100 percent probability of attaining desired 

phosphorus concentrations in the 11 basins. Changes recommended are relative to those capacities suggested in the 1978 IJC 

agreement. 

concentrations in all basins, (2) that natural variability one of many Great Lakes goals. It is entirely possible that 

must be accounted for when deciding upon manage- the recommended increases in phosphorus treatment 

ment actions, and (3) that optimization models provide capacities could lead to phosphorus concentrations that 

an excellent tool for the design of environmental man- might, for example, be lower than those needed to supagement plans. A note of caution is appropriate, how- port desired fisheries. Therefore, the effects of one manever, when examining the recommendations from this agement strategy upon other management strategies 

optimization analysis. Phosphorus management is only must be considered when devising Great Lakes manage- 
Environmental Systems Studies 

SYNTHETIC ORGANICS and 

PARTICLE DYNAMICS 

PHYSICAL LIMNOLOGY and 

METEOROLOGY I - Lake current predictions for 

modeling particle movement 

- Wave predictions for modeling 

LAKE HYDROLOGY 

- Flow routing and current 

information for loading and 

contaminant transport 

calculations I 

I - Contaminant accumulation and I I mixing rates in sediments I - Sediment resuspension rates 

- Uptake, depuration, and trans- ECOSYSTEM and NUTRIENT 

formation rates of contaminants 1 by - Phosphorus loading rates to , 7 Lake St. Clair via internal 

I sources: sediments and biota 1 

I ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 

STUDIES I 

I - Contaminant loading rates I 4 - Ecosystem 

and behavior 

/contaminant 

mode; 

fate I - I - Contaminant exposure /risk 

calculations I - Management models I 

PARTICIPATING UGLCCS 

AGENCIES I 

1 - Contaminant loading rates 

- Monitoring data 

- Ecosystem information 

Figure 34. Interrelationships among CLERL projects in the Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study. Lines connecting boxes 

denote two-way flows of information. 

ment plans; to build such a multi-objective optimization 

framework is one goal of the Environmental Systems 

Studies Group. 

UGLCCS: Cooperating for the 

Greater Good 

The Environmental Systems Studies Group coordinates (Fig. 34) and actively participates in GLERL's efforts 

in the Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study 

(UGLCCS). A generic model that can be used to predict 

contaminant fate and behavior, as well as exposure probabilities, is being developed using physical, chemical, 

and biological information provided by other UGLCCS 

participants. This model should assist in the development of contaminant management strategies. A phosphorus mass balance model for Lake St. Clair was developed (Fig. 35) during FY 1985 and will be used during 

FY 1986 to examine the relative importance of various 

pathways (external versus internal loading, resuspension, etc.) in controlling the seasonal variation of phosphorus levels. 

- 

1 19 

<18F - 1 Data a /Range 

I I I I 

1975 July Aug. Sept. I - - 

Time (months) I 

Figure 35. Comparison of the output from the phosphorus 

mass balance model with measured (dots) total phosphorus 

concentrations in Lake St. Clair during 1975. The mean (heavy 

solid line), + one standard deviation (dashed line), and + the 

range (light solid line) of model behavior are shown and result 

from consideration of the variability expected in loading and 

apparent settling rates. Model output and data represent lake 

wide averages. 
Information 

The GLERL mission includes the development of 

environmental information for the Great Lakes region to 

improve understanding and to provide improved environmental service tools, data, information, and consulting services in support of user needs in government and 

private organizations. Identification of the environmental information required in association with Great Lakes 

and estuarine use and development is vital to the GLERL 

mission and is one of the goals of lnformation Services 

efforts at GLERL. GLERL staff participation on boards, 

commissions, task forces, and committees is an essential 

part of this effort. 

The value of GLERL products to the many government and private users is a function not only of the scientific content, but also of the timeliness and form of the 

output. lnformation must be packaged and interpreted to 

satisfy specific needs and applications. GLERL Information Services includes a Publications Unit that ensures 

that GLERL's research products reach the usercommunities in a timely manner and readable form. 

lnternational and Interagency 

Participation 

Staff participation on boards, commissions, task 

forces, and committees provides a mechanism for defining user needs and guiding the development of usable 

products. It helps to maintain staff involvement in programs concerned with Great Lakes environmental prob 

lems, and keeps staff familiar with water- and landoriented resource development and management issues. 

During FY 1985 GLERL staff participated as members (unless noted otherwise) of the following International Joint Commission boards, committees, and task 

forces: 

lnternational Great Lakes Technical lnformation 

Network Board 

Systems Evaluation Committee 

Hydrology Committee 

lnternational Great Lakes Levels and Flows Advisory 

Board (U.S. Co-Chairman) 

Great Lakes Water Quality Board, Surveillance Work 

Group 

Upper Connecting Channels Task Force 

Lake Michigan Task Force 

Lake Erie Task Force 

Task Force on I n-Place Sediment Contaminants, 

Workshop on Monitoring in Areas of 

Concern 

Great Lakes Science Advisory Board 

Great Lakes Levels Task Force (Chairman) 

Great Lakes Research Strategy and Toxic 

Contaminants Committee 

Health and Aquatic Communities Workgroup 

(Advisor) 

Task Force on Great Lakes Modeling 

GLERL staff also participated as members (unless 

noted otherwise) of other interagency and international 

activities: 

Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Study 

(UGLCCS) 

Management Committee 

Activities Integration Committee 

Modeling Task Force (Chairman) 

Coordinating Committee for Great Lakes Hydraulic 

and Hydrologic Data 

Riverflow Subcommittee 

U.S.-Canada Ice lnformation Working Group (U.S. 

Co-Chairman) 

Journal of Great Lakes Research (Associate Editors) 

lnternational Association for Hydrologic Research 

Section on Water Resources Systems (U.S. Representative) 

GLERL staff took part in an interagency planning 

activity with NOANNMPPO and Great Lakes representatives of EPA, FWS-Great Lakes Fisheries Laboratory, and 

COE to develop an "Action plan for federal research and 

monitoring related to Great Lakes water quality and 

water quantity." 

Other activities involving participation with other 

NOAA units included the NOAA Marine Environmental 

Quality Task Force (OAR Technical Representative), the 

Synthetic Organics Research Subcommittee (Chairman), 

the Habitat Modification Research Subcommittee (Member), the Nutrient Overenrichment Research Subcommittee (Member), and the NOAA Technical Subcommittee, 

New Bedford Superfund Action (Member). 

Several GLERL scientists were members of the Executive Board of the lnternational Association for Great 

Lakes Research (IAGLR), including functions as PastPresident and Secretary. IAGLR is the primary Great 

Lakes research professional society and is involved with 

coordinating programs and disseminating results. 

One GLERL scientist was a member of the National 

Research Council Conference on Review of the Great 

Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and another presented 

a 2day short course on Toxic Substances in the Great 

Lakes in conjunction with Michigan Sea Grant at Michigan State University. A GLERL scientist participated in 

numerous public information meetings and special briefings concerning record Great Lakes lake levels and their 

causes, including several meetings for the Great Lakes 

public, the U.S. Congress, and state legislators, sponsored by the lnternational Joint Commission. 
Information Services 

Number 

0 200 400 600 800 1000 

Category I I I I I I I Foreign Govt. .. 

U.S. Govt: .......--a ........................... ...... _._ ............ :.:.:>,,* ......,+. . 

State ~ovt ....... / Requests 

University. .... ...= 

Industry .......... & 

Private citizens rrouuc 

Figure 36. Summary, by user category, of information requests 

received and products provided by GLERL during FY 1985. 

Publications Unit 

The Publications Unit staff is responsible for providing editorial and publications support to the scientific 

staff, distributing GLERL publications, and responding to 

requests for publications and information. The unit also 

maintains and updates, as necessary, eight mailing lists 

covering GLERL products. New NOAA-series publications are automatically distributed according to these 

mailing lists; all new publications, including journal articles and books, are added to our six-month update listing 

of new publications, which keeps our users informed of 

GLERL's latest product releases. 

In FY 1985, GLERL research products included 69 

scientific articles, reports, and books, 85 talks presented 

at scientific and public meetings by GLERL staff, and 

responses to approximately 1,600 requests for information, providing almost 2,800 items to service those 

requests. In addition, a new comprehensive summary of 

GLERL publications to date was published (GLERL Publications, June 1985), and a brochure was produced for 

informal distribution. Figure 36 shows the number of 

documented FY 1985 information requests received and 

products distributed by user category. State and Federal 

government (both U.S. and foreign) requests were 37Oi0, 

university requests were 31 %, industrial requests were 

25%, and private citizen requests were 2% of the total 

documented requests received during FY 1 985. 

Technology Transfers 

Among the products that GLERL produces and distributes, many involve, to some degree, a transfer of 

technology as well as data. During FY 1985, there were 

eight major technology transfers of GLERL products to 

outside users: 

Method of Amino Acid Analysis of Natural Waters 

User: Michigan State University. 

Track Autoradiography Procedure 

Users: University of Southern California; 

Michigan State University. 

Methods of Measuring Primary Production in Lakes 

and Rivers 

User: Georgia Environmental Protection 

Agency. 

PATHFINDER Trajectory (spill) Model 

Users: National Weather Service-National 

Meteorology Center and Weather 

Service Forecast Offices in Chicago, 

Ann Arbor, Cleveland, and Buffalo; 

U.S. Coast Guard; 

Atmospheric Environment Service of 

Canada. 

Lake Champlain Water Supply Model 

User: National Weather Service- Northeast 

River Forecast Center in Hartford, 

Connecticut. 

GLERL Interactive Wave Prediction Model 

Users: National Weather Service-Weather 

Service Forecast Offices 

in Cleveland, Ann Arbor, Buffalo, and 

Chicago 

Lake Superior Water Supply Model 

User: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Detroit 

District) 

Procedure to Estimate Snow Water Equivalent from 

Gamma Radiation Measurements 

User: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Detroit 

District) 
Facilities 

The present GLERL facilities are a combination of 

office and laboratory spaces, the latter consisting of both 

biology and chemistry laboratories. A Marine Instrumentation Laboratory is maintained at another location in 

Ann Arbor, while bulk storage and warehousing have 

been located some 60 miles away in Monroe, Michigan. 

These facilities were meant to be only temporary quarters when GLERL moved to Ann Arbor in 1974. While 

GLERL continued to occupy them during FY 1985, at the 

close of FY 1985 negotiations were being finalized for a 

new leased facility to be located in Ann Arbor, with 

occupancy slated for early FY 1987. GLERL's base for 

field operations, including the RN Shenehon, is in 

Grand Haven, Michigan. 

Biology, Chemistry, and Ice 

Laboratories 

The chemistry program at GLERL is primarily 

focused on organic compounds and nutrients in the ecosystem and the use of radionuclides to study sediment 

dynamics. Major instrumentation includes glass capillary 

gas chromatographs, high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) units, a total carbon analyzer, a multichannel autoanalyzer system, and a suite of low-level gamma 

and alpha radiation detectors. Two liquid scintillation 

counters are shared by the Synthetic Organics and Ecosystem Dynamics Groups, and are used to study the 

uptake of radio-labeled organic compounds, nutrients, 

growth rates, competition for nutrients by algae, and 

cycling rates of selected algal nutrients. Within the 

chemistry section, the particle dynamics radionuclide 

laboratory is a specialized facility equipped to detect and 

measure very low levels of many of the radioactive sub 

stances present in water, sediment, and biota. The laboratory was established as part of the cooperative program 

with the University of Michigan's Great Lakes and 

Marine Waters Center, and is housed on the University 

of Michigan North Campus. 

The biology laboratories include a multichannel 

Coulter Counter to study particle-size selection and zooplankton grazing on natural lake algae and seston, a full 

complement of growth chambers and incubators, stereo, 

inverted, and epifluorescent microscopes, and equip 

ment for culturing phytoplankton and zooplankton, the 

latter particularly useful for laboratory studies of ecosystem models. Shipboard and shoreside incubators have 

been constructed to simulate ambient light and temperature conditions for as many as two dozen 20-liter growth 

addition to GLERL's specialized laboratories is the High 

Speed Microcinematography Laboratory. The design of 

this lab is based on the microcinematography facility at 

Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. A critical difference is that the GLERL facility is housed in a separate 

temperature controlled environmental chamber. The 

combination of high speed (500 frames per second) and 

precise temperature control over the temperature range 

from 1 to 30°C allows advanced studies of the feeding 

behavior of zooplankton over the broad range of temperatures found in the natural Great Lakes environment. 

GLERL's Ice Laboratory provides scientists with an 

extended opportunity to make winter measurements by 

allowing them to characterize and perform experiments 

on ice samples collected and stored during the previous 

field season. The facility consists of a work room maintained at -7"C, and an ice storage room. The work 

room can be used to conduct experiments on natural ice, 

as well as to calibrate instrumentation for the ice 

research program in an environment similar to that 

encountered in the field. 

Marine lnstrumentation Laboratory 

The Marine lnstrumentation Laboratory staff selects, 

calibrates, repairs, and, when necessary, adapts or 

designs instruments to collect data in the lakes and their 

environs. The facility includes wood and machine shops, 

and electronics design, fabrication, and repair shops, 

and houses both the Ice and Microcinematography Laboratories. Engineers and technicians in this unit work 

closely with GLERL researchers to ensure that instruments are compatible with their needs. MIL staff also 

participate in field experiments, providing support for 

the deployment and retrieval of field equipment, assistance with sample and data collections, and in-field 

maintenance or repair of equipment. 

New instrumentation acquired and tested for use in 

the 1985 field season included an acoustical Doppler 

current profiler, four Neil Brown Instrument Systems 

acoustical current meters, three sets of Hewlett Packard 

3421A analog data acquisition system controls and 

HP75 calculators, and two EPSON Geneva PX-8 portable computers for lab and field data handling. Some of 

the instrumentation fabricated by the Marine Instrumentation Laboratory in support of GLERL programs in 1985 

include a 20-sample water sampler, a bottom sediment 

flume, tripods for bottom sediment studies, and support 

structures for acoustic current meter deployment. 

chambers and have been used for zooplankton grazing 

experiments. A mobile trailer fitted to support field Computer Facility investigations of the physiology and feeding rates of 

planktonic and benthic organisms is located at the dock- The GLERL Computer Facility consists of an on-site 

ing facility for the RN Shenehon (see below). A recent VAX 11/780 system and includes the capability of 
Facilities 

figure 37. RN Shenehon, GLERL's primary field platform. 

accessing either a mainframe computer [Cyber 180/855) 

or a supercomputer (Cyber 205), both located at the 

National Bureau of Standards in Gaithersburg, MD. 

CLERL is one of five remote nodes to that facility, which 

is known as the Department of Commerce Consolidated 

Scientific Computing Service. 

The CLERL computer supports ovpr 80 authorized 

accounts for a variety of applications, including reaitirne 

data acquisition, data reduction, graphics, large scale 

modeling, statistical/mathematical analysis, telecommunications, and word processing. On-site access is sup 

ported via 20 graphics terminals, 32 non-graphics interactive terminals, and 30 dumb terminals. Overall system 

access was upgraded during FY 1985 by in~tallation of a 

Micom lnstanet 6600 communications switch which 

allows most CLERL terminals to be hardwired and to 

select interactive sessions on either the VAX or the Cybw 

180/855 in Gaithersburg. 

Research Vessel Shenehon 

The RN Shenehon is the primary platform used in 

support of open lake field investigatrons (Fig. 37). The 

vessel is 65.6 feet long, with a 6.5-foot mean draft, a 

600-nautical mile cruising range, and a 10-knot cruising 

speed. A hydraulic articulated crane is used for deployment and retrieval of he;~vy instrument moorings. 

Winches handle hydrographic wire and multiconductor 

cable for sample casts and in situ measurements of water 

variables. The Shenehon is based at the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers' boat yard at Grand Haven, Michigan, 

which includes warehouse facilities and space for a 

mohi le shore-based laborarory. 

During FY 1985 an on-board laboratory was redesigned, modernized, and expanded to facilitate physical, 

chemical, and biologicaE experiments. Other shipboard 

improvements during the past year include opening of a 

large access through the stern laboratory bulkhead, relocating the freezer and incubator, and installing a new 

system for housing the data acquisition instruments. 

These improvements resulted in easier access, and more 

deck and storage space. An HP75 calculator-based data 

acquisition system with a cassette recorder iq used to 

record depth, temperature, transparency, meteorological 

and other data in digital format. Data from the cassette 

can be rapidly entered into the VAX 11/780 computer 

and are then readily available to all users. A Loran C 

navigation system provides the capability and precision 

for the boat to return to an exact site in the lakes for 

equipment retrieval. 

Library Facility 

The CLERL library staff support laboratory activities 

by maintaining a tailored research collection and afferi ng special r~trreval services when the existing collection 

cannot rnwt the needs of the researchers. Library services include reference, interlibrary loan, photocopying, 

acquisition, circulation, and online information retrieval 

for laboratory-affiliated personnel. Coll~ction holdings 
Facilities 

include 3,100 books, 3,700 unbound periodical volumes, and 2,900 technical reports in the areas of climatology, hydraulics, hydrology, ice, limnology, 

mathematical modeling, meteorology, oceanography, 

sedimentation, and wave motion, with emphasis on the 

Great Lakes basin. Recently, contaminant organics and 

nutrients were included as major subject areas. The 

CLERL library is a member of the Michigan Library Consortium, Washtenaw-Livingston Library Network, Federal Library and lnformation Network, NOAA Library 

and lnformation Network, and the Online Computer 

Library Center, Inc. 

During FY 1985 the library received 239 current 

periodical titles and retrieved 387 interlibrary loan 

requests. The library's online information retrieval capabilities were expanded through the addition of the QU 

Search database collection, which provides access to 

Canadian data bases. 
Permanent Staff as of 30 September 1985 

Full Time Part Time 

Office of the Director 11 3 

Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics Group 8 5 

Environmental Systems Studies Group 1 0 

Lake Hydrology Group 10 1 

Physical Limnology and Meteorology Group 11 4 

Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics Group 9 3 

TOTAL 50 16 

Office of the Director 

Aubert, E.J. 

Noble, P.E. 

Reid, D.F. 

Administration 

Mark, S.V. 

Dunivan, E.M. 

Hubbard, B.D. 

James, O.L. 

Lee, 1. P. 

Computer Facility 

Spalding, G.E. 

Del Proposto, D.J. 

Fenton, J.F. 

Herche, L.R. 

Lefevre, J.T. 

Shrurn, A.F. 

Information Services 

Ecosystem and Nutrient Dynamics Group 

Director Gardner, W.S. Head 

Secretary Lojewski, N.L. Secretary 

Ass't to the Director Cichocki, E.A. 

Fahnenstiel, G.L. 

Laird, G.A. 

Head Lang, G.L. 

Liebig, J.R. 

Malczyk, J.M. 

Nalepa, T.F. 

Quigley, M.A. 

Scavia, D. 

Tarapchak, S.J. 

Head Vanderploeg, H.A. 

Lake Hydrology Group 

Quinn, F.H. Head 

Lawton, B.J. Secretary 

Assel, R.A. 

Bolsenga, S.J. 

Croley, T.E., II 

Reid, D.F. Head 

Environmental Systems Studies Group 

Fontaine, T.D. Head 

Physical Limnology and Meteorology Group 

Schwab, D.J. Acting Head 

Townsend, G.H. Secretary 

Campbell, J.E. 

Clites, A.H. 

Liu, P.C. 

Lynn, E.W. 

McCormick, M.J. 

Miller, G.S. 

Saylor, J.H. 

Marine Instrumentation Laboratory 

Soo, H.K. Head 

Booker, H.L. 

Dungan, J.E. 

Kistler, R.D. 

Miller, T.C. 

Muzzi, R.W. 

Derecki, J.A. 

Hartrnann, H.C. 

Kelley, R.N. 

Leshkevich, G.A. 

Norton, D.C. 

Library Facility 

Carrick, B.J. Librarian 

Synthetic Organics and Particle Dynamics Grwp 

Eadie, B.J. Head 

Gray, M.J. Secretary 

Bell, G.L. 

Faust, W.R. 

Frez, W.A. 

Hawley, N. 

Landrum, P.F. 

Morehead, N.R. 

Robbins, J.A. 

Wv Shenehon 

Morse, D.V. 

Burns, W.R. 

Grimes, J.E. 

Master Mate 
Publications 

lnformation about GLERL publications and a 

description of GLERL Mailing Lists may be obtained by 

contacting: 

lnformation Services 

NOANGLERL 

2300 Washtenaw Avenue 

Ann Arbor, MI 48104 

3 1 3-668-2262 

Staff Publications 

Assel, R.A. 1984. Sub-committee report: Summary of the 

discussion on ice information and forecasting. In 

Proceedings, Great Lakes ice research workshop, ed. 

R.A. Assel and J.G. Lyon, pp. 65- 71. Ann Arbor: 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 

Assel, R.A. 1 985. Lake Superior cooling season temperature climatology. NOAA Technical Memorandum 

ERL GLERL-58. 

Assel, R.A., and Lyon, J.G.~, ed. 1984. Proceedings, 

Great Lakes ice research workshop. Ann Arbor: 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 

Assel, R.A., Snider, c.R.~, and Lawrence, R.+ 1984. 

Great Lakes winter weather and ice conditions for 

1982-83. NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL 

GLERL-55. 

Assel, R.A., Snider, c.R.~, and Lawrence, R.+ 1985. 

Comparison of 1983 Great Lakes weather and ice 

conditions with previous years. Mon. Wea. Rev. 

11 3:291 - 303. 

Bolsenga, S.J. 1984. Nearshore Great Lakes ice thicknesses and stratigraphics. In Proceedings, Great 

Lakes ice research workshop, ed. R.A. Assel and J.G. 

Lyon, pp. 23 - 30. Ann Arbor: Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 

Bolsenga, S.J. 1984. Shortwave reflectance and transmittance of ice and snow. In Proceedings, Great Lakes 

ice research workshop, ed. R.A. Assel and J.G. Lyon, 

pp. 10-22. Ann Arbor: Great Lakes Environmental 

Research Laboratory. 

Bolsenga, S.J., and Greene, G.M.* 1984. Techniques to 

measure the spectral reflectance of ice. In Proceedings, Ocean Optics VII, ed. M.A. Blizard, pp. 

384- 391. Bellingham, WA: SPIE-The International 

Society for Optical Engineering. 

Croley, T.E., 11. 1985. Computer reduction of arbitrary 

shapes to convex components. In Proceedings, 

Tenth Canadian Congress of Applied Mechanics, ed. 

H. Rasmussen, pp. D63- D64. London, ON: University of Western Ontario. 

Croley, T.E., 11. 1985. Forecasting Great Salt Lake levels. 

In Proceedings, Problems and Prospects for Predicting Great Salt Lake Levels, ed. P.A. Kay and H.F. 

Diaz, pp. 179 - 188. Salt Lake City, UT: Center for 

Public Affairs and Administration, University of 

Utah. 

Croley, T.E., 11. 1985. Hydrologic and hydraulic calculations in BASIC for small computers, adapted for 

CASIO-PB1 10, parts I and II. IUPHY Documents 10 

and 11. Brussels: Free University of Brussels. 220 

PP. 

Croley, T.E., II, and Hartmann, H.C. 1985. Lake Champlain water supply forecasting. GLERL Open File 

Report. 

Croley, T.E., II, and Hartmann, H.C. 1985. Large basin 

runoff forecasting on small computers. In Proceedings, speciality conference on hydraulics and 

hydrology in the small computer age, pp. 7 - 1 2. 

Buena Vista, FL: American Society of Civil Engineers, Hydrology Division. 

Croley, T.E., II, and Hartmann, H.C. 1985. Resolving 

Thiessen polygons. I. Hydrol. 76:363 - 379. 

Derecki, J.A. 1 984. Lake St. Clair physical and hydraulic 

characteristics. GLERL Open File Report. 

Eadie, B.J., Chambers, R.L.*, Gardner, W.S., and Bell, 

G.L. 1984. Sediment trap studies in Lake Michigan: 

Resuspension and chemical fluxes in the southern 

basin. 1. Great Lakes Res. 10:307-321. 

Eadie, B.J., Faust, W.R., Landrum, P.F., and Morehead, 

N.R. 1985. Factors affecting bioconcentration of 

PAH by the dominant benthic organisms of the 

Great Lakes. In Proceedings, Polynuclear aromatic 

hydrocarbons: Eighth international symposium on 

mechanisms, methods, and metabolism, ed. M.W. 

Cooke and A.J. Dennis, pp. 799-812. Columbus, 

OH: Battelle Press. 

Fahnenstiel, G.L., Schelske, c.L.~, and Moll, R.A.~ 

1984. In situ quantum efficiency of Lake Superior 

phytoplankton. I. Great Lakes Res. 10:399 -406. 

Gardner, W.S., Frez, W.A., Cichocki, E.A., and Parrish, 

c.c.~ 1985. Micromethod for lipids in aquatic invertebrates. Limnol. Oceanogr. 30: 1099 - 1 105. 

Gauthier, R.L.~, Melloh, R.A.~, Croley, T.E., II, and Hartmann, H.C. 1985. Application of multisensor observations to Great Lakes hydrologic forecast models. 

In Proceedings, 18th international symposium on 

remote sensing of the environment, vol. 2, pp. 

11 29 - 1140. Ann Arbor: Environmental Research 

Institute of Michigan. 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 1984. 

Annual report for the Great Lakes Environmental 

Research Laboratory. Ann Arbor: Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 1985. 

Publications by the staff of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. Ann Arbor: Great Lakes 

Environmental Research Laboratory. 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 1985. 

Technical plan for the Great Lakes Environmental 
Publications 

Research Laboratory. Ann Arbor: Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the 

University of Michigan, the University of Minnesota, 

Michigan State University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 1984. 

Annual report to Ocean Assessment Division, 

National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration: The cycling of toxic 

organic substances in the Great Lakes ecosystem. 

Ann Arbor: Great Lakes Environmental Research 

Laboratory. 

Greene, G.M.* 1984. Sub-committee report: Summary 

of the discussion on ice characteristics. In Proceedings, Great Lakes ice research workshop, ed. R.A. 

Assel and J.G. Lyon, pp. 57-59. Ann Arbor: Great 

Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. 

Greene, G.M.*, and Outcalt, S.1.t 1985. A simulation 

model of river ice cover thermodynamics. Cold Reg. 

Sci. Technol. 10:251 - 262. 

lnternational Great Lakes Technical Information Network Board. 1984. Hydraulics, hydrology, and systems evaluation. Appendix A of Great Lakes Hydrometeorologic and Hydraulic Data Needs, Report to 

the lnternational Joint Commission. 192 pp. 

Landrum, P.F., Reinhold, M.D.*, Nihart, S.R.*, and 

Eadie, B.J. 1985. Predicting the bioavailability of 

organic xenobiotics to Pontoporeia hoyi in the presence of humic and fulvic materials and natural dissolved organic matter. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 

4:459 - 467. 

Landrum, P.F., Eadie, B.J., Faust, W.R., Morehead, N.R., 

and McCormick, M.J. 1985. Role of sediment in the 

bioaccumulation of benzo(a)pyrene by the amphipod Pontoporeia hoyi. I n Proceedings, Polynuclear 

aromatic hydrocarbons: Eighth international symposium on mechanisms, methods, and metabolism, ed. 

M.W. Cooke and A.J. Dennis, pp. 799- 81 2. Columbus, OH: Battelle Press. 

Lang, G.A. 1984. Update of U.S. Great Lakes tributary 

loadings, 1979 - 80. NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL GLERL-54. 

Leshkevich, G.A. 1985. Machine classification of freshwater ice types from Landsat-1 digital data using ice 

albedos as training sets. Remote Sens. Environ. 

1 7:251 - 263. 

Leshkevich, G.A., and Reid, N.J.~ 1985. Airborne measurements of freshwater ice albedos. In Proceedings, 

Eighteenth International Symposium on Remote 

Sensing of Environment, Vol. 3, pp. 1677-1687. 

Ann Arbor: Environmental Research Institute of 

Michigan. 

Liu, P.C. 1984. An iteration problem. SlAM Rev. 26:279. 

Liu, P.C. 1985. In search of universal parametric correlations for wind waves. In The ocean surface, ed. Y. 

Toba and H. Mitsuyasu, pp. 171 - 178. Holland: D. 

Reidel Publishing Company. 

Liu, P.C. 1985. On a design wave spectrum. In Proceedings, 7 9th coastal engineering conference, pp. 

362-369. New York: American Society of Civil 

Engineers. 

Liu, P.C. 1985. Representing frequency spectra for shallow water waves. Ocean Engng. 12(2): l 5 l - l 60. 

Liu, P.C., Schwab, D.1, and Bennett, J.R.* 1984. Comparison of a two-dimensional wave prediction model 

with synoptic measurements in Lake Michigan. j. 

Phys. Oceanogr. 14:1514-1518. 

Miller, G.S., and Saylor, J.H. 1985. Currents and temperatures in Green Bay, Lake Michigan. j. Great Lakes 

Res. 11 :97- 109. 

Nalepa, T.F. 1985. Occurrence of a resting stage in 

cyclopoid and harpacticoid copepods in nearshore 

Lake Michigan. j. Great Lakes Res. 1 1 :59 - 66. 

Nalepa, T.F., Quigley, M.A., Childs, K.F.*, Gauvin, J.M., 

Heatlie, T.S., Parker, M.P.*, and Vanover, L.* 1985. 

Macrobenthos of southern Lake Michigan, 

1980 - 81. NOAA Data Report ERL GLERL-58. 

Norton, D.C. 1984. A comparison of precipitation averages as estimators of overbasin precipitation. GLERL 

Open File Report. 

Oris, J.T.~, Giesy, J.P.~, Allred, P.M.+, Grant, D.F.~, and 

Landrum, P.F. 1984. Photoinduced toxicity of 

anthracene in aquatic organisms: An environmental 

perspective. In The biosphere: Problems and solutions, ed. T.N. Veziroglu, pp. 639-658. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Science Publishers. 

Quigley, M.A., and Robbins, J.A. 1984. Silica regeneration processes in nearshore southern Lake Michigan. 

1. Great Lakes Res. 10:383 - 392. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. Editorial. j. Great Lakes Res. 1 1 :l. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. Great Lakes levels setting new record 

highs. Twine Line 7:l. Columbus, OH: Ohio Sea 

Grant, Ohio State University. 

Robbins, J.A. 1 985. Great Lakes regional fallout source 

functions. NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL 

GLERL-56. 

Robbins, J.A. 1985. The coupled lakes model for estimating the long-term response of the Great Lakes to 

time-dependent loadings of particle-associated contaminants. NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL 

GLERL-57. 

Robbins, J.A., Husby-Coupland, ~.t, and White, D.s.~ 

1984. Precise radiotracer measurement of the rate of 

sedi ment reworking by Stylodrilus heringianus and 

the effects of variable dissolved oxygen concentrations. j. Great Lakes Res. 10:335 - 347. 

Saylor, J.H., and Miller, G.S. 1984. Lake physics. In Synopsis of Lake Erie water quality, ed. D. Rathke and 

C.J. Edwards. Windsor, ON: lnternational Joint Commission, Great Lakes Regional Office. 

Scavia, D., Fahnenstiel, G.L., Davis, J.A.~, and Kreis, 

R.G., ~r.t 1984. Small-scale nutrient patchiness: 

Some consequences and a new encounter mechanism. Limnol. Oceanogr. 29:785 - 793. 

Stubblefield, B., and Bennett, J.R.* 1984. Preliminary 
Publications 

report on GLERL's ice dynamics simulation model. 

GLERL Open File Report. 

Vanderploeg, H.A., Scavia, D., and Liebig, J.R. 1984. 

Feeding rate of Diaptomus sicilis and its relation to 

selectivity and effective food concentration in algal 

mixtures and in Lake Michigan. J. Plankton Res. 

6:919-941. 

Vanderploeg, H.A., and Paffenhofer, G.-A.+ 1985. 

Modes of algal capture by the freshwater copepod 

Lk'aptomus sicilis and their relation to food-size 

selection. Limnol. Oceanogr. 30:871 -885. 

t~ot affiliated with this laboratory. 

*No longer affiliated with this laboratory. 

Contractor Publications 

Stoermer, E.F., Kociolek, J.P, Schelske, C.L., and Conley, 

D.J. 1985. Siliceous microfossil succession in the 

recent history of Lake Superior. In Proceedings, 

Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia 137:106- 118. 

Stoermer, E.F., Wolin, J.A., Schelske, C.J., and Conley, 

D.J. 1985. Variations in Melosira islandica valve 

morphology in Lake Ontario sediments related to 

eutrophication and silica depletion. Limnol. 

Oceanogr. 30:414-418. 

Stoermer, E.F., Wolin, J.A., Schelske, C.L., and Conley, 

D.J. 1985. An assessment of ecological changes during the recent history of Lake Ontario based on siliceous algal microfossils observed in the sediments. 

). Phycol. 21:257-276. 
Presentations 

Assel, R.A. 1984. Great Lakes Environmental Research 

Laboratory ice research program 1984 - 85. 13th 

Annual Meeting of the United States-Canadian Ice 

lnformation Working Group, October 31, 1984, 

Toronto, ON. 

Assel, R.A. 1984. Thermal structure of Lake Superior. 

American Geophysical Union Fall MeetingAmerican Society of Limnology and Oceanography 

Winter Meeting, December 3 - 7, 1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Assel, R.A. 1 985. Lake Superior cooling season temperature climatology. 28th Conference on Great Lakes 

Research, June 3 - 5, 1985, Milwaukee, WI. 

Aubert, E.J. 1984. Effective Great Lakes management 

and decision making. The H,O Edge: The Wise Use 

of our Freshwater Resources, Michigan Society of 

Planning Officials and Northeast Ontario Planning 

Conference. October 1 2, 1 984, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. 

Aubert, E.J. 1985. Great Lakes water quality research. 

Congressional/Parlimentary Dialogue on Great 

Lakes Water Quality, Center for the Great Lakes and 

Northeast-Midwest Institute, June 8, 1985, Mackinac 

Island, MI. 

Aubert, E.J. 1985. Great Lakes research programs. Semiannual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, 

March 20, 1985, Detroit, MI. 

Croley, T.E., 11. 1985. Computer reduction of arbitrary 

shapes to convex components. 10th Canadian Congress of Applied Mechanics, June 2 - 7, 1985, at the 

University of Western Ontario, London, ON. 

Croley, T.E., 11. 1985. Forecasting Great Salt Lake levels. 

Workshop on Problems and Prospects for Predicting 

Great Salt Lake Levels, March 26-28, 1985, at the 

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. 

Croley, T.E., 11. 1985. Great Lakes forecasting. Presentation to Subcommittee on Atmospheric Research 

Meeting on Hydrology, Subcommittee on Atmospheric Research, Committee on Atmosphere and 

Oceans, Federal Coordinating Council for Science, 

Engineering, and Technology, National Science 

Foundation, June 27, 1985, Washington, DC. 

Croley, T.E., 11, and Hartmann, H.C. 1985. Areal averaging of point measurements in near real-time. Second 

lnternational Conference of Interactive Information 

and Processing Systems for Meteorology, Oceanography, and Hydrology, American Meteorological 

Society, January 15, 1985, Miami, FL. 

Croley, T.E., II, and Hartmann, H.C. 1985. Large basin 

runoff forecasting on small computers. American 

Society of Civil Engineers 1985 Hydraulics Division 

Speciality Conference on Hydraulics and Hydrology 

in the Small Computer Age, August 12 - 17, 1985, 

Lake Buena Vista, FL. 

Croley, T.E., 11, and Hartmann, H.C. 1985. Near realtime water supply forecasting. 28th Conference on 

Great Lakes Research, June 3 - 5, 1 985, Milwaukee, 

WI. 

Croley, T.E., 11, and Hartmann, H.C. 1985. Parameter 

calibration for the Large Basin Runoff Model. Fourth 

lnternational Hydrology Symposium on Multivariate 

Analysis of Hydrologic Processes, at Colorado State 

University, July 15 - 1 7, 1985, Fort Collins, CO. 

Eadie, B.J. 1985. Role of resuspension and partitioning in 

the long-term fate of contaminants in Lake Michigan. 

American Chemical Society Meeting, September 

8- 13, 1985, Chicago, IL. 

Eadie, B.J., and Robbins, J.A. 1984. Time constants associated with the response of the Great Lakes to contaminants. Fifth Annual Meeting of the Society of 

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, November 4 - 7, 1984, Arlington, VA. 

Eadie, B.J., Landrum, P.F., and Faust, W.R. 1985. Factors 

affecting bioconcentration of PAH by Great Lakes 

benthos. 28th Conference on Great Lakes Research, 

June 3 - 5, 1985, Milwaukee, WI. 

Eisenreich, s.J.~, Capel, P.D.~, Looney, B.B.~, and Rob 

bins, J.A. 1985. Chlorinated hydrocarbons (CH) in 

porewater and sediments of the Great Lakes. 28th 

Conference on Great Lakes Research, June 3 - 5, 

1985, Milwaukee, WI. 

Fahnenstiel, G.L., Scavia, D., Sicko-Goad, L.~, and 

Stoermer, E.F.~ 1984. Picoplankton in Lake Superior. American Geophysical Union Fall MeetingAmerican Society of Limnology and Oceanography 

Winter Meeting, December 3 - 7, 1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Fahnenstiel, G.L., Scavia, D., and Lang, G. 1985. Importance of physical factors in the Lake Michigan deep 

chlorophyll layer. Joint Summer Meeting of the 

American Society of Limnology and Oceanography 

and the Ecological Society of America, June 17-21, 

1985, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 

MN. 

Fontaine, T.D. 1985. Future environmental simulation 

needs for the Great Lakes. lnternational Association 

for Great Lakes Research workshop, March 27, 

1985, Ann Arbor, MI. 

Fontaine, T.D. 1985. Modeling and statistical 

approaches for determining the fate and effects of 

toxicants in natural waters. Workshop on Persistent 

Toxic Substances and the Health of Aquatic Communities, lnternational Joint Commission, June 21, 

1985, Minneapolis, MN. 

Fontaine, T.D. 1985. Modeling approaches for Great 

Lakes management. Seminar, March 12, 1985, at 

Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI. 

Fontaine, T.D., and Lesht, B.M.~ 1985. Effects of stochastic phosphorus and ice cover on optimal phosphorus management strategies for the Great Lakes. 
Presentations 

lnternational Society for Ecological Modelling, 

August 13, 1985, Gainesville FL. 

Fontaine, T.D., and Lesht, B.M.~ 1985. Effects of stochastic phosphorus inputs and ice cover on optimal 

Great Lakes phosphorus management strategies. 

28th Conference on Great Lakes Research, June 5, 

1985, at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 

Milwaukee, WI. 

Frez, W.A., and Landrum, P.F. 1984. Species-dependent 

uptake of PAH in Great Lakes invertebrates. Ninth 

lnternational Symposium on Polynuclear Aromatic 

Hydrocarbons, October 30 - November 1, 1984, 

Columbus, OH. 

Gardner, W.S. 1984. Mineralization of organic nitrogen 

in Lake Michigan by Pontoporeia hoyi. American 

Geophysical Union Fall Meeting-American Society 

of Limnology and Oceanography Winter Meeting, 

December 3 - 7, 1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Gardner, W.S., Nalepa, T.F., Frez, W.A., Cichocki, E.A., 

and Landrum, P.F. 1985. Lipid content and energy 

flow through Lake Michigan invertebrates. 28th 

Conference on Great Lakes Research, June 3 - 5, 

1 985, Milwaukee, WI. 

Gauthier, R.L.~, Melloh, R.A.~, Croley, T.E., II, and Hartmann, H.C. 1984. Application of multisensor observations to Great Lakes hydrologic forecast models. 

18th lnternational Symposium on Remote Sensing of 

the Environment, October 1 - 5, 1984, Paris, France. 

Hartmann, H.C., and Croley, T.E., 11. 1985. Efficient spatial weighting techniques. 28th Conference on Great 

Lakes Research, June 3 - 5, 1985, Milwaukee, WI. 

Hawley, N. 1984. Observations of flow in sediment 

traps. American Geophysical Union Fall MeetingAmerican Society of Limnology and Oceanography 

Winter Meeting, December 3 - 7, 1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Hugel, E.A.*, Robbins, J.A., and Eadie, BJ. 1985. Vertical fluxes of Pb210 and Po-21 0 in southern Lake 

Michigan. 28th Conference on Great Lakes 

Research, June 3 - 5, 1 985, Milwaukee, WI. 

Laird, G.A., Scavia, D., and Fahnenstiel, G.L. 1985. 

Algal organic release rates in Lake Michigan. 28th 

Conference on Great Lakes Research, June 3 - 5, 

1985, Milwaukee, WI. 

Landrum, P.F., Giesy, J.P.~, Allred, P.M.~, and Oris, J.T.~ 

1984. The photo- induced toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to aquatic organisms. International Conference on Oil and Freshwater Chemistry, 

Biology, and Technology, October 15 - 19, 1984, 

Edmonton, AB. 

Landrum, P.F., Eadie, B.J., and Faust, W.R. 1984. Role of 

environmental factors affecting the toxicokinetics of 

organic xenobiotics in Pontoporeia hoyi. Fifth 

Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental 

Toxicology and Chemistry, November 4 - 7, 1984, 

Arlington, VA. 

Leshkevich, G.A. 1985. Remote sensing of Great Lakes 

ice cover. National Water Research Institute, Canada 

Centre for Inland Waters, Seminar Series, May 8, 

1985, Burlington, ON. 

Leshkevich, G.A., and Reid, N.J.~ 1984. Airborne measurements of fresh-water ice albedos. 18th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, October 1 - 5, 1984, Paris, France. 

Liu, P.C. 1985. Representing wind-wave spectra in shallow seas. Joint Assembly of the lnternational Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics and 

the lnternational Association for the Physical Science of the Ocean Sections, lnternational Union of 

Geodesy and Geophysics, August 5 - 16, 1985, 

Honolulu, HI. 

McCormick, M.J. 1984. Lagrangian capability of surface 

drifting buoys. Drifting Buoy Workshop, November 

15, 1984, Bay St. Louis, MS. 

Morehead, N.R., Eadie, B.J., Berner, D.A.*, and Landrum, P.F. 1984. The association of PAH with dissolved organics in Lake Michigan waters. Society of 

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Central 

Great Lakes Regional Chapter, Fall Meeting, September 18 -20, 1984, Ann Arbor, MI. 

Morehead, N.R., Eadie, B.J., Berner, D.A.*, and Landrum, P.F. 1984. The sorption of select PAH onto 

dissolved organics in Lake Michigan water. Fifth 

Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental 

Toxicology and Chemistry, November 4- 7, 1984, 

Arlington, VA. 

Nalepa, T.F. 1985. Impact of toxic chemicals on benthos 

of the Great Lakes. Joint Summer Meeting of the 

American Society of Limnology and Oceanography 

and the Ecological Society of America, June 1 7 - 21, 

1985, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 

MN. 

Quigley, M.A. 1984. Size-dependent feeding frequency 

of a deposit-feeding amphi pod, Pontoporeia hoyi. 

American Geophysical Union Fall MeetingAmerican Society of Limnology and Oceanography 

Winter Meeting, December 3 - 7, 1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Quigley, M.A. 1985. Opportunistic deposit-feeding by 

the amphi pod Pontoporeia hoyi. 33rd Annual Meeting of the North American Benthological Society, 

June 25 - 28, 1985, Corvallis, OR. 

Quigley, M.A., and Conley, D.J.~ 1985. Nearshore1 

offshore comparison of silica and phosphorus benthic flux ratios in Lake Michigan. Joint Summer 

Meeting of the American Society of Limnology and 

Oceanography and the Ecological Society of America, June 17-21, 1985, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. 

Quinn, F.H. 1984. Great Lakes water quantity issues. 

Seminar, Great Lakes Institute, November 5, 1 984, 

at the University of Windsor, Windsor, ON. 

Quinn, F.H. 1 985. Current perspectives on Great Lakes 

levels. Seminar, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 

ResearchINOAA, September 20, 1985, Rockville, 

MD. 
Presentations 

Quinn, F.H. 1 985. Current perspectives on Great Lakes 

levels. Great Lakes Interstate Committee, May 31, 

1985, Glenn Arbor, MI. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. Current perspectives on Lake Erie levels. American Society of Civil Engineers, Toledo Section Meeting, September 18, 1985, Toledo, OH. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. Current water quantity issues. Science Advisory Board, lnternational Joint Commission, May 8, 1985, Chicago, IL. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. The development and application of a 

regional climatic water balance model to the Lake 

Superior Basin. American Geophysical Union Spring 

Meeting, May 27- 31, 1985, Baltimore, MD. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. The effects of climate on physical 

systems. Workshop on Climate Impact Assessment 

in the Great Lakes Basin: Research Strategies. February 8- 9, 1985, at Seneca College, King City, ON. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. Great Lakes diversions and consump 

tive use. Environmental Systems Seminar Series, 

February 6, 1985, at the University of Wisconsin - 

Madison, Madison, WI. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. Great Lakes levels overview. Lake 

Levels Workshop, Water Quality Board Meeting, 

lnternational joint Commission, June 25- 27, 1985, 

Kingston, ON. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. Great Lakes levels overview. Great 

Lakes Levels Briefing, lnternational Joint Commission, August 9, 1985, Washington, DC. 

Quinn, F.H. 1 985. Great Lakes levels. Toledo Metropolitan Council of Governments, July 17, 1985, Put-inBay, OH. 

Quinn, F.H. 1985. Lake level trends and interbasin diversions. Governor's Conference on Lake Michigan, 

September 26, 1985, Chicago, IL. 

Quinn, F.H., and Derecki, J.A. 1985. The record St. Clair 

River ice jam of 1984. 28th Conference on Great 

Lakes Research, June 3 - 5, 1985, Milwaukee, WI. 

Robbins, J.A. 1985. Lead-210 dating of lake sediments. 

Joint Summer Meeting of the American Society of 

Limnology and Oceanography and the Ecological 

Society of America, June 17-21, 1985, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. 

Robbins, J.A. 1985. Processes affecting the transport and 

distribution of tracers in sediments of the Great 

Lakes. American Chemical Society Meeting, Sep 

tember 8 - 13, 1985, Chicago, IL. 

Saylor, J.H. 1984. Bottom current velocities in the central basin of Lake Erie. American Geophysical Union 

Fall Meeting-American Society of Limnology and 

Oceanography Winter Meeting, December 3 - 7, 

1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Saylor, J.H., and Miller, G.S. 1985. Circulation of southern Lake Michigan. 28th Conference on Great Lakes 

Research, June 3 - 5, 1985, at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI. 

Scavia, D., Laird, G.A., and Fahnenstiel, G.L. 1984. Bacteria production estimates for Lake Michigan. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting-American 

Society of Limnology and Oceanography Winter 

Meeting, December 3 - 7, 1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Scavia, D., Lang, G.A., and Fahnenstiel, G.L. 1985. Diel 

stratification effects in temperate lakes. Joint Summer Meeting of the American Society of Limnology 

and Oceanography and the Ecological Society of 

America, June 17-21, 1985, at the University of 

Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. 

Schwab, D.J. 1985. Currents in the Great Lakes. U.S. 

Coast Guard, Air Search and Rescue Division, Informational Seminar Series, February 7, 1985, Mt. Clemens, MI. 

Schwab, D.J. 1985. A numerical wave forecast model for 

the Great Lakes. National Weather Service, National 

Meteorological Center, Seminar Series, February 18, 

1985, Camp Springs, MD. 

Schwab, D.J., and Bennett, J.R.* 1985. A Lagrangian 

comparison of objectively analyzed and dynamically modeled circulation patterns in Lake Erie. Joint 

Assembly of the lnternational Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics and the International Association for the Physical Science of the 

Ocean Sections, lnternational Union of Geodesy 

and Geophysics, August 5 - 16, 1985, Honolulu, HI. 

Schwab, D.J., Bennett, J.R.*, and Lynn, E.W. 1985. 

"Pathfinderu-An interactive model for trajectory 

prediction in the Great Lakes. 28th Conference on 

Great Lakes Research, June 3 - 5, 1985, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI. 

Tarapchak, S.J. 1984. Phosphorus uptake kinetics by 

microbial assemblages in Lake Michigan. American 

Geophysical Union Fall Meeting-American Society 

of Limnology and Oceanography Winter Meeting, 

December 3 - 7, 1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Tarapchak, S.J. 1985. Do bacterioplankton compete with 

phytoplankton for orthophosphate? lnternational 

Symposium on Aquatic Microbial Ecology, May 

13 - 15, 1985, Burlington, ON. 

Tarapchak, S.J. 1985. Lake Michigan phytoplankton 

dynamics: Competition for phosphorus and silicon. 

Seminar, May 16, 1985, at Canada Centre for Inland 

Waters, Burlington, ON. 

Tarapchak, S.J. 1985. Phosphorus sources for algae and 

bacteria in Lake Michigan. Joint Summer Meeting of 

the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography and the Ecological Society of America, June 

17-21, 1985, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. 

Vanderploeg, H.A., Scavia, D., and Liebig, J.R. 1984. 

Feeding rate of a freshwater copepod and its relation 

to selectivity and effective food concentration in 

algal mixtures and in Lake Michigan. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting-American Society of 

Limnology and Oceanography Winter Meeting, 

December 3 - 7, 1984, San Francisco, CA. 

Vanderploeg, H.A., Laird, G.A., Liebig, J.R., and 

Gardner, W.S. 1985. Direct measurement of ammonium release by zooplankton in dense suspensions 
-- -- 

PresentationsIContracts and Grants 

of heat-killed algae and evaluation of the flow-cell 

method. Joint Summer Meeting of the American 

Society of Limnology and Oceanography and the 

Ecological Society of America, June 17-21, 1985, 

at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. 

t~ot affiliated with this laboratory. 

*No longer affiliated with this laboratory. 

Contracts and Grants During FY 1985 

Principal Investigator Institution Title 

A.M. Beeton 

J.A. Bowers 

J.E. Breck 

S.J. Eisenreich 

M.S. Evans 

J.P. Giesy 

B.M. Lesht 

B.M. Lesht 

G.A. Meadows 

C.H. Mortimer 

C.H. Mortimer 

C.P. Rice1P.A. Meyers 

R. Rossmann 

R. Rossmann 

M.S. Simmons 

E.F. Stoermer 

D.S. White 

University of Michigan 

University of Michigan 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory 

University of Minnesota 

University of Michigan 

Michigan State University 

Argonne National Laboratory 

Argonne National Laboratory 

University of Michigan 

University of Wisconsin 

(Mi lwau keel 

University of Wisconsin 

(Milwaukee) 

University of Michigan 

University of Michigan 

University of Michigan 

University of Michigan 

University of Michigan 

University of Michigan 

Great Lakes Research Planning 

Phosphorus Release by Zooplankton 

Models for Behavior and Fate of Long-Lived 

contaminants 

Toxic Organic-Sediment Dynamics In the Great Lakes 

Characterization of Particulate Flows 

Changes in the Free Amino Acid Pool of Lake 

Michigan Invertebrates 

Benthic Nepheloid Layer in Southern Lake Michigan 

Bottom Sediment Resuspension in Lake St. Clair 

Airborne Radar Synoptic Wave Observations 

Inertial Motion and Related Internal Waves 

Synthesis Report on Lake Erie Research 

Partitioning and Cycling of Toxic Organics 

Concentration and Storage of Tracers and 

Contaminants in Lake St. Clair 

Records of Contaminant Fluxes 

Photochemical Degradation 

Phytoplankton Population Analysis 

Redistribution of Sediment Bound Toxic Organics 

ir U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1986-654-569/20200 48