Two researchers work with a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, for underwater mapping. Photo by Ed Bailey with Northwestern Michigan College For Jennifer Boehme, the Great Lakes floor holds a variety of treasures waiting to be rediscovered, from sinkholes to shipwrecks. But coastal safety is the primary factor driving her work with the Great Lakes Observing System, a Michigan nonprofit working to fully map the bottom of the Great Lakes. The lakes span 94,250 square miles or nearly the size of the state of Oregon. Despite humans’ long history of using the lakes for water, transportation and sport, scientists say little is known about what lies deep below the surface. Boehme said the mapping initiative, which has been dubbed Lakebed 2030 , supports ongoing efforts to make the region more resilient to climate change. “It identifies areas prone to erosion, flooding or damage from shifting lake bed sediments that are caused by extreme weather events. The Great Lakes are experiencing more frequent and more severe storms in recent years and that causes increased erosion,” said Boehme, the group’s chief executive officer. “This is something that can be very damaging to coastal communities, private and business infrastructure, if it’s not understood and managed effectively.” The amount of rain falling as the heaviest one percent of storms has increased by 35 percent over a 66-year span. The severity of storms is complicated even more by the loss of ice during the winter, which typically serves as a buffer against waves generated by severe storms. Boehme noted Lake Superior is warming the fastest among the Great Lakes. Amid those changes, the Great Lakes Observing System began the concerted mapping effort in 2019. At the time, only 12 percent had been mapped to modern standards. Since then, the nonprofit has mapped a total […]