CIGLR Connect

  Strengthening Safety on the Ice: Recapping Sea Ice Forecast Workshops in Western Alaska   In Alaska, landfast ice is more than just a landscape, it’s a frozen highway and a lifeline for subsistence hunting. But as the Arctic changes, this vital coastal ice...

In partnership with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program is the cornerstone of CIGLR’s efforts to train the next generation of scientists. Each year, CIGLR is excited to welcome a group of bright, emerging...

Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) Earth System Modeler Melissa Mattwig attended the 2026 Annual Meeting of the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE) in February 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. At the meeting, she shared insights from...

When strong winds sweep across Lake Ontario, the water does more than churn at the surface, it hums. Those winds generate waves, and those waves press down on the lakebed, sending tiny vibrations through the Earth. People can’t feel them, but sensitive instruments...

  Lake-effect snow is one of the Great Lakes region’s most dramatic winter events. Anyone who has lived downwind of the lakes knows how quickly a calm morning can turn into whiteout conditions as narrow snow bands intensify overhead. These bands form when cold...

In western Lake Erie’s dynamic and ever-changing ecosystem, an under-the-surface relationship may help explain why toxic blooms of Microcystis have become increasingly common in recent years. A recent study led by former CIGLR Algal Toxin and Ecology Research...

The Great Lakes are a vital resource, supporting ecosystems, communities, and economies across North America. Understanding and predicting how water moves through this system is critical, especially as changing climate conditions affect precipitation, evaporation, and...

In partnership with NOAA GLERL, the Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program is a cornerstone of CIGLR’s mission to train the next generation of scientists. Each year, CIGLR has the pleasure of hosting a group of bright, emerging researchers for a 12-week fellowship. During...

The Great Lakes—Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior—aren’t just bodies of water. They are home. They are history. They are economic engines and sources of recreation, drinking water, and identity for millions of people across the region. A new resource...

Welcome Readers! We're excited to share CIGLR Connect's first post with everyone. CIGLR Connect is an informal, casual, blog-style publication that will connect our readers and science by sharing news from CIGLR's Research Institute and Consortium, program updates,...