University of Wisconsin–Madison

Year: 2021

Scientists Turn to Satellites to Study Lakes of Many Colors

by Hilary Dugan – Why are lakes blue? Or green? Or brown? The color of a lake reflects what’s in the water. Pure water appears blue, lakes with a lot of algae appear green, and lakes with high carbon concentrations appear brown. Water color is not synonymous with water quality, but it does provide insight …

Seeping Salt: Study Finds “Slow and Steady” Salinization of North American Lakes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Many North American lakes are getting saltier, thanks primarily to the road salt used to keep winter roads free of ice and snow. While this salt can keep precipitation from freezing on surfaces, it also ends up flowing into nearby waterways – especially as warmer temperatures melt piles of plowed snow …