Ice Thickness Data
Currently, ice modelers have very little to no information regarding ice thickness on the Great Lakes. needed to verify regional ice models. The Great Lakes ice modeling community has access to satellite information to verify the ice coverage predictions, but when it comes to knowing how thick the ice is, there is very little information available to them. GLOS will attempt to help fill this data gap with community assistance, by looking to the ice fishing community. The project will count on ice fishers sharing their ice thickness measurements that will in turn help improve regional ice predictive models.
Community Ice Thickness Data Submission
GLOS has a data sharing agreement to help you understand what we are hoping to collect. If you are interested in participating, please review the form and create a Seagull account (or use a preexisting account) to submit your data. In order to receive your Volunteer Stipend, you must email Shelby Brunner with confirmation of your data submission.
If you do not wish to receive a stipend or create a free Seagull account, use “winter@glos.org” as the username and “winterObs” as the password, to access the data submission form.
We will take measurements as long as there is ice. If you have measurements from earlier in the season, before being aware of this program, we will accept those as well (so long as the records are accurately dated).
Video: Community Ice Thickness Data Collection
GLOS streamed an informational webinar on Thursday, February 6th, 2025, to provide an overview of the proposed project, current ice modeling work and gaps, and answer questions from interested participants.
If you know of anyone who ice fishes or does other forms of ice recreation on the Great Lakes proper and may be interested, this video provides information about how current modeling works and why more data is needed!
In the News:
Communities, researchers measure ice thickness on the Great Lakes
“Researchers are seeking data on ice thickness and snow cover, which can be submitted online. Stipends are also available to volunteers who contribute data from the Great Lakes.”
by Vivian La
Interlochen Public Radio
Ice Statistics and Historical Data
- Find Ice Data – GLOS