Climate Change
Climate Change is a global problem, but a specific subset of its challenges are already affecting the Great Lakes Region
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Drinking Water
More than 11 million people rely on Lake Erie for their drinking water, putting them at risk for illness from contaminated water.
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Droughts and Floods
Climate Change will increase both droughts and floods in the Great Lakes region, severely affecting agriculture, Ohio’s number one industry.
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Rising Temperatures
Rising temperatures and increased extreme rainfall events could increase water contamination through about 1300 combined sewer systems in Ohio.
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Forest Diversity
Changing precipitation and higher temperatures could change what types of trees grow in the Great Lakes region, potentially causing great losses to these states’ timber industries.
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Crop Yields
If climate change continues as predicted, corn and soybean yields in Great Lake states like Ohio and Indiana could decrease 20-30% by 2049 and 40-80% by 2090.
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Species Migration
Insects like the monarch butterfly are predicted to migrate north as temperatures rise across the Great Lakes region.
About Us
The OSU Climate Change Outreach Team is a partnership among multiple departments within The Ohio State University. The team’s goal is to help localize the climate change issue by bringing related research and resources to residents of Ohio and the Great Lakes region.
More About UsSign Up For Our Next Webinar
Climate Change in the Great Lakes
International Joint Commission issues Great Lakes report card30 May, 2013Lana Pollack, the US chair of the International Joint Commission's U.S. delegation, discusses the past, present and future of cleaning up the Great Lakes.
Toxic algae and Lake Erie's dead zone29 May, 2013Massive algal blooms covered thousands of square miles on the western end of Lake Erie in 2011. Some warn the next ones could get worse - and spread further across the Lake - unless changes are made.
Milwaukee's Climate Change Initiative29 May, 2013Responding to severe storms that impacted the Milwaukee region in 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) approved a 2035 Vision that has helped them to make significant achievements in the area of climate preparedness and water sustainability. A webinar on the topic will take place on June 13, 2013.
Aspiring policymakers hit the road to learn about climate change adaptation23 May, 2013Two recent University of Michigan Graduates are embarking on a three-month, cross-country road trip to get an on-the-ground look at climate change adaptation.
A black mound of Canadian oil waste is rising over Detroit21 May, 2013A three-story pile of petroleum coke that covers an entire city block is continuing to grow along the banks of the Detroit River. Detroit's ever-growing black mountain is the unloved, unwanted and long overlooked byproduct of Canada's oil sands boom.
Upcoming Webinars
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Climate Education
TBD,
Featured Presentations
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Dr. Jonathan Patz
University of Wisconsin
Climate Change in the Great Lakes: Key Vulnerabilities to Public Health in the Region. Read more. -
Dr. Brent Sohngen
Ohio State University
Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Great Lakes Farms and Forests. Read more. -
Dr. Dan Herms
Ohio State University
Effects of Climate Change on Species Interactions in Natural and Agricultural Ecosystems. Read more. -
Dr. Peter Curtis
Ohio State University
Managing Great Lakes Forests for Climate Change Mitigation Read more. -
Dr. Anthony D. Kendall
Michigan State University
Climate Change, Biofuels, and Land Use Legacy Read more.
Let’s Get Social
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Meet Our Scientists
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Dr. Jeffrey C. Rogers
State Climatologist, Ohio State University
Studying World Climate to Help Ohio. Read more.
