• News
  • Lake Facts
  • About

Lake Scientist

The Great Lakes’ Largest Research Vessel: Lake Guardian (Video)

1
  • by Daniel Kelly
  • — May 12, 2014

Lots of vessels are used for research on the Great Lakes, but one stands out as the largest: the U.S. EPA’s Lake Guardian. The ship usually makes scientific missions from April through October of each year after the lakes have thawed.

The 180-foot long vessel is equipped with equipment like onboard CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) sensors, plankton nets and box corers for taking sediment samples. An onboard benthic sled can also be used collect invertebrates from lake beds.

The Lake Guardian also features extensive lab space as a permanent part of the ship. A biology lab is mostly used for assessing chlorophyll a, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Chemical measurements take place in a separate area and a multipurpose laboratory is primarily used to assess water quality parameters like pH, turbidity, conductivity or dissolved oxygen.

largest research vessel lake guardian

The R/V Lake Guardian. (Credit: Flickr User Michael Pereckas via Creative Commons)

The ship’s instruments and facilities have been used in studies on phytoplankton, nutrient loads, currents, etc. They also serve as training grounds for middle and high school science teachers.

Video: Benthic Sled on the Lake Guardian (Credit: YouTube User RVLakeGuardian)

Share

You may also like...

  • Record high phosphorus levels recorded in two Lake Erie tributaries
  • Asian Carp DNA detected in Lake Erie
  • Federal judge will hear Asian carp case
  • Industrial sunrise over Lake Huron Research Brief: Highlighting Indigenous Peoples-Related Environmental Research

1 Comment

  1. R/V Lake Guardian Collects Data for Lake Erie Algal Bloom Forecast - Lake Scientist says:
    June 27, 2014 at 1:09 PM

    […] quest to learn more about Lake Erie’s issues is made possible by the extensive monitoring tech on the Guardian’s decks, operated by 13 scientists and an 11-man crew. As the Great Lakes’ largest research vessel, […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

FishSens SondeCAM HD
  • Recent Posts

    • Sampling on Lake St. Clair, July 29, 2013.Research Brief: Contaminants in a Great Lakes Urban-Dominant WatershedJune 2, 2023
    • Sea LampreyResearch Brief: Incorporating the Two-Eyed Seeing Approach into Sea Lamprey ManagementMay 26, 2023
    • USCGC Mackinaw Entering Duluth HarborResearch Brief: Full-Year Zooplankton Dynamics Along a Nearshore Depth GradientMay 19, 2023
    • Image of Lake 239 at IISD Experimental Lakes Area from aboveResearch Brief: Using Sediment DNA to Determine Long-Term Cyanobacterial DynamicsMay 12, 2023
    • Crystal Clear Problems: Impacts of Water Transparency in Aquatic EcosystemsMay 1, 2023
  • Popular Tags

    Great Lakes research pollution Lake Erie research summary Product Spotlight invasive species Algae international runoff Lake Michigan Ohio dissolved oxygen nutrient-loading EPA temperature eutrophication toxic waters climate change USGS ice phosphorus Asian Carp Michigan restoration

©2023 Fondriest Environmental Inc. | Questions? Call 888.426.2151 or email customercare@fondriest.com