Yahara Lakes 101 Science Cafe with John Magnuson

What lake ice tells us about climate change and variability:
An update on Mendota and lakes around the world

About the talk: 

Lake ice, like sea ice and glaciers, is very sensitive to warming of the climate and variability in weather. We have no sea ice or glaciers in Madison, but lake ice tells a very specific story right here in Madison. A 162-year record of freeze and breakup on Lake Mendota reveal changes occurring right here in Madison. These changes are paralleled by changes to lakes around the world. Earlier in the season, Dr. Magnuson was interviewed by Jeff Glaze at the State Journal and suggested that ice cover may not form completely across Lake Mendota this winter. What was the latest date for ice cover on Mendota before this year? So when will the lake freeze over this winter? What is happening?

Manguson discussed these issues for a recent front-page article in the Wisconsin State Journal:
"An ice-free winter on Lake Mendota? Lake expert says it's a possibility" - Jeff Glaze, WSJ, 12/15/16

Magnuson also covered lake ice science and culture in-depth in a journal article:
"Lake Ice: Winter, Beauty, Values, Changes and a Threatened Future" - Lake Line, Winter 2014

About our speaker

John J. Magnuson is an aquatic ecologist and limnologist with a special interest in fish and fisheries ecology. His training is in fish and wildlife management, zoology, and oceanography. Current interests include: long-term ecological research on lake ecosystems, analyses of long-term lake ice time series, climate change impacts and adaptations, thermal ecology of fishes, landscape and invasion ecology of lakes.

John is now an emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, residing in the Center for Limnology which he helped form in 1982, and was its first director. His students have received their graduate degrees in Zoology, Oceanography and Limnology, and Water Resources Management. He has had a strong interest in seeing science used in solving real world issues related conservation of species, climate change, and fisheries.

About the series

Yahara Lakes 101 is a series of educational events open to the public and a great chance for residents to learn more about the science behind the issues that affect our lakes. Each month we feature a different expert to make the science accessible and interesting to non-technical audiences. Yahara Lakes 101 is produced in partnership with the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, with hosting sponsor The Edgewater, presenting sponsor First Weber Group, supporting sponsor The Evjue Foundation, and media sponsor The Isthmus.

Yahara 101 is held both indoors and outdoors (weather permitting) in the The Statehouse at The Edgewater — our new location for the series. Come at 7:30 a.m. for a meet-and-greet and to enjoy your coffee, pastries, and fruit. The program begins at 8 a.m., and class is dismissed by 9 a.m.

If you already are a Friend of Clean Lakes (minimum $35 donation/year), then admission is free. Use code "FRIEND16." Become a Friend today. If you are not a Friend yet, admission is $10 per event. Registration for each event is required for all attendees. Special event parking will be available at The Edgewater.