Abstract

Although it is a historically understudied season, winter is now recognized as a time of biological activity and relevant to the annual cycle of north-temperate lakes. Emerging research points to a future of reduced ice cover duration and changing snow conditions that will impact aquatic ecosystems. The aim of the study was to explore how altered snow and ice conditions, and subsequent changes to under-ice light environment, might impact ecosystem dynamics in a north, temperate bog lake in northern Wisconsin, USA. This dataset resulted from a snow removal experiment that spanned the periods of ice cover on South Sparkling Bog during the winters of 2019, 2020, and 2021. During the winters 2020 and 2021, snow was removed from the surface of South Sparkling Bog using an ARGO ATV with a snow plow attached. The 2019 season served as a reference year, and snow was not removed from the lake. This dataset represents the snow depths, black and white ice thickness, and Secchi depths during the period of ice cover each winter.<br/>

Abstract

Data for water temperature at different depth and different frequencies assembled from various sources by Dale Roberson. A table with additional parameters collected at the same time is also provided for dates when available. These parameters are weather observations, secchi depth, snow and ice depths.

Abstract

Lake and river ice seasonality (dates of ice freeze and breakup) responds sensitively to climatic change and variability. We analyzed climate-related changes using direct human observations of ice freeze dates (1443–2014) for Lake Suwa, Japan, and of ice breakup dates (1693–2013) for Torne River, Finland. We found a rich array of changes in ice seasonality of two inland waters from geographically distant regions: namely a shift towards later ice formation for Suwa and earlier spring melt for Torne, increasing frequencies of years with warm extremes, changing inter-annual variability, waning of dominant inter-decadal quasi-periodic dynamics, and stronger correlations of ice seasonality with atmospheric CO2 concentration and air temperature after the start of the Industrial Revolution. Although local factors, including human population growth, land use change, and water management influence Suwa and Torne, the general patterns of ice seasonality are similar for both systems, suggesting that global processes including climate change and variability are driving the long-term changes in ice seasonality.

Abstract

Ice core data collected by Yi-Fang (Yvonne) Hsieh and collaborators for her PhD project, "Modeling Ice Cover and Water Temperature of Lake Mendota."; Part of the project was the development of a 3D hydrodynamic-ice model that simulated both temporal and spatial distributions of ice cover on Lake Mendota for the winter 2009-2010. The parameters from these ice core data were used as model inputs to run model simulations. Parameters measured include: blue ice, white ice, snow depth, and total ice. On February 13, 2009, ice cores were taken on Lake Mendota at four different stations. From January 14, 2010 through March 3, 2010 ice cores were taken on Lake Mendota at 31 different stations. In addition, ice cores were taken on other Yahara Lakes during February of 2009: Lake Kegonsa (4 stations_February 6), Lake Waubesa (4 stations_February 7), Lake Wingra (2 stations_February 8), and Lake Monona (4 stations_February 8). Only total ice measurements are reported for 2009. Included in this data set are the ice core data, and geospatial information for ice coring stations. Documentation: Hsieh, Y.-F., 2012a. Modeling ice cover and water temperature of Lake Mendota. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. The University of Wisconsin - Madison, United States -- Wisconsin, p. 157.

Abstract

Snow and ice depth are measured during the winter months on the eleven primary lakes (Allequash, Big Muskellunge, Crystal, Sparkling, Trout lakes, unnamed lakes 27-02 [Crystal Bog] and 12-15 [Trout Bog], Fish, Mendota, Monona and Wingra). 10 snow depth measurements are taken in a circle around the sampling location and averaged to single measurement. Sampling Frequency: every 6 weeks during ice-covered season in the north and typically once during the winter in the south. Number of sites: 11.

Abstract

Data includes day of freeze-up and thaw dates of seven northern primary lakes (Allequash, Big Muskellunge, Crystal, Sparkling, Trout, unnamed 27-02 [Crystal Bog] and 12-15 [Trout Bog]) as well as historic data from Little Rock Lake. Observations are made approximately every other day during times of freeze and thaw. A lake is considered ice covered when the sampling station (the deepest part of the lake) is ice covered. The lake is considered thawed when it is possible to drive a boat from the boat landing to the sampling station without encountering ice. Sampling Frequency: annually. Number of sites: 8.

Abstract

Data include dates of freeze-up, thaw, and ice duration of three primary lakes in the Madison area (Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and Lake Wingra). Data are obtained from the State Climatologist. For Monona and Wingra, the freeze date (ice on) is defined as the first date on which the water body is observed to be completely ice covered, and the breakup date (ice off) is the date of the last breakup observed before the open water phase. Ice duration is the number of days that a water body is completely covered with ice and excludes any period during which the lake thawed in mid-winter before freezing again. For Mendota, duration is calculated in the same manner, but ice on and ice off dates are assigned as follows: The lake is deemed frozen if it has solid ice from Picnic Point to Maple Bluff and total ice cover is greater than 50 %. The lake is deemed open if it is ice-free from Picnic Point to Maple Bluff and total ice cover is less than 50%. Sampling Frequency: annually. Number of sites: 3.

Abstract

The Little Rock Acidification Experiment was a joint project involving the USEPA (Duluth Lab), University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin-Superior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Little Rock Lake is a bi-lobed lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin, USA. In 1983 the lake was divided in half by an impermeable curtain and from 1984-1989 the northern basin of the lake was acidified with sulfuric acid in three two-year stages. The target pHs for 1984-5, 1986-7, and 1988-9 were 5.7, 5.2, and 4.7, respectively. Starting in 1990 the lake was allowed to recover naturally with the curtain still in place. Data were collected through 2000. The main objective was to understand the population, community, and ecosystem responses to whole-lake acidification. Funding for this project was provided by the USEPA and NSF. Snow and ice depth are measured during the winter months on the reference and treatment basins of Little Rock Lake. Sampling Frequency: varies - Number of sites: 4