Predicting Carbon Storage of Great Lakes Forests in the Year 2050

Forests across North-Central and North-Eastern North America historically have been responsible for most of the continent’s biological carbon storage, helping to slow atmospheric CO2 increases. However, these forests are aging and are beset by a variety of pests and pathogens. In the face of continuing climate change, what does this mean for the future?

This webinar will provide information about:

  • Links between forest age, biological and structural complexity, and ecosystem resilience to disturbance
  • Current approaches to predicting carbon storage by future forests
  • Management options that promote the sustainable delivery of forest ecosystem goods and services

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Movement of Climate Change Knowledge Through Social Networks

People learn about climate change from different places, from the events they attend to published works they read or author. And everyone, from climate scientists to the general public, receives and processes climate information differently. This presentation looks at the different ways in which climate information is relayed and how effective those pathways are.

Specifically this webinar will examine:

  • How climate knowledge changes as it moves through different networks of people
  • How the change depends on the nature of the social structure through which it moves
  • How roles people play in the transfer of information relate to where they are located in the social structure
  • How opportunities for interaction are structured by institutional forces like online forums and large sponsors such as NOAA and the National Science Foundation

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Climate Change Impacts on Fisheries in Lakes Michigan and Huron

Great Lakes fishery managers and stakeholders have little information regarding how climate change could affect the management of recreationally and commercially important fisheries, which have been valued at more than $7 billion annually. Our research has focused on how climate change could influence fish habitat (including water temperature, ice cover, and water levels), phytoplankton production, and ultimately fish production.

Focusing on lakes Michigan and Huron, this webinar will provide information about:

  • whether we can detect climate signals in long-term data on fisheries and phytoplankton
  • preliminary climate (e.g., water temperature, ice cover) forecasts for 2043-2065
  • how future climate could influence growth and consumption of key fish species, such as Chinook salmon, lake trout, yellow perch, and lake whitefish

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Climate Change & Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

Harmful algal blooms continue to be a problem for the Lake Erie ecosystem and lakeshore communities, and predicted climate change impacts like increased heavy precipitation and higher temperatures have the potential to worsen these problems in the future. Focusing on Lake Erie, this webinar will provide information about:

  • Historical climate and potential future impacts of climate change in the Lake Erie basin.
  • How climate change could impact Lake Erie nutrient levels that drive harmful algal blooms
  • The potential effects of reduced lake ice and higher temperatures on algal blooms’ length and size

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Climate Education

Learn about integrating climate change education into your classroom or informal education programming, get an introduction to regionally relevant climate science, and hear about how other educators have used these materials. The webinar will be presented by educators who have used the resources in their own teaching, both in the classroom and in place-based education.

Certificates of attendance for professional development contact hours can be requested after the webinar; instructions will be provided during the session.

The presentation will cover:

  • Ohio Sea Grant’s updated Great Lakes Climate Change Curriculum
  • climate and Great Lakes literacy principles
  • informal resources to supplement and expand lesson plans

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Webinar Archives

What Attendees Are Saying

  • “ Here in Minnesota we're using the webinars to provide current research updates. The information is pertinent and timely and by using the OSU webinars for content, we can spend time working on other aspects of climate adaptation. – B. Liukkonen, U of MN Extension

  • “ This is one of the most useful and accessible resources in the Great Lakes basin. Consider it a cornerstone of a growing network of climate professionals in this region. ”

  • “ Thank you, OSU, for providing such a useful tool! Keep’em coming! ”

  • “ Thanks for these webinars. A great resource. ”

Featured Presentations

  • 2010-09-28
    Dr. Jonathan Patz

    University of Wisconsin
    Climate Change in the Great Lakes: Key Vulnerabilities to Public Health in the Region. Read more.

  • 2010-11-02
    Dr. Brent Sohngen

    Ohio State University
    Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Great Lakes Farms and Forests. Read more.

  • 2010-10-14
    Dr. Dan Herms

    Ohio State University
    Effects of Climate Change on Species Interactions in Natural and Agricultural Ecosystems. Read more.

  • 2011-01-11
    Dr. Peter Curtis

    Ohio State University
    Managing Great Lakes Forests for Climate Change Mitigation Read more.

  • 2010-12-07
    Dr. Anthony D. Kendall

    Michigan State University
    Climate Change, Biofuels, and Land Use Legacy Read more.