The Large Lakes Observatory (or LLO) is a research institute located in

Duluth, Minnesota Duluth ( ) is a Port, port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County, Minnesota, St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population ...

USA The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...

which studies the major lakes of the world. The researchers focus on a variety of sciences including

aquatic chemistry Aquatic means relating to water; living in or near water or taking place in water; does not include groundwater, as "aquatic" implies an environment where plants and animals live. Aquatic(s) may also refer to: * Aquatic animal, either vertebrate ...

geochemistry Geochemistry is the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans. The realm of geochemistry extends beyond the Earth, encompassing the e ...

and

paleoclimatology Paleoclimatology ( British spelling, palaeoclimatology) is the scientific study of climates predating the invention of meteorological instruments, when no direct measurement data were available. As instrumental records only span a tiny part of ...

. Its stated purpose dedicates the LLO to "performing innovative, cross-disciplinary research, education, and outreach that advance scientific understanding of Earth’s large lakes for the benefit of society and the sustainability of freshwaters." The parent institution of LLO is the

University of Minnesota Duluth The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a public university in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the University of Minnesota System. UMD offers 17 bachelor's degrees in 87 majors, graduate programs in 24 different fields, a tw ...

History

The Large Lakes Observatory was founded in 1994, after a 1988 scientific and policy conference resulted in the formation of the "Institute for Lake Superior Research" which developed into the LLO. It moved into its present location in the Research Laboratory Building in Duluth, MN after a fire in the former Old Main campus building (now the site of Old Main Park) left the Model School building untouched. LLO moved into the Model School Building shortly thereafter. Past directors of LLO include Dr. Tom Johnson and Dr. Steve Colman. Scientific expeditions carried out by LLO scientists have visited all of the

Laurentian Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario (though hydrologic ...

, the East African Rift Lakes, Lake Issyk Kul,

Lake Nicaragua Lake Nicaragua or Cocibolca or Granada (, , or ) is a freshwater lake in Nicaragua. Of tectonic origin and with an area of , it is the largest fresh water lake in Central America, the List of lakes by area, 19th largest lake in the world (by are ...

Lake Qinghai Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China. Located in an endorheic basin in Qinghai Province, to which it gave its name, Qinghai Lake is classified as an alkaline salt lake. The lake has fluctuated in size, shrinking over much of the 20th cent ...

Great Slave Lake Great Slave Lake is the second-largest lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada (after Great Bear Lake), List of lakes by depth, the deepest lake in North America at , and the List of lakes by area, tenth-largest lake in the world by area. It ...

, and others.

Research vessels

The LLO operates the ''R/V'' ''Blue Heron'' as the only University National Oceanographic Laboratory System vessel on the Great Lakes. The ''R/V Blue Heron'' has an

overall length The overall length (OAL) of an ammunition cartridge is a measurement from the base of the brass shell casing to the tip of the bullet, seated into the brass casing. Cartridge overall length, or "COL", is important to safe functioning of reloads i ...

of 26 m and berths for 11 party members. In 2024, researchers on the vessel discovered an apparently new life form, temporarily named " ShipGoo001".

Outreach

Large Lakes Observatory members coordinate and participate in various public outreach events. These include annual tours of the ''R/V'' Blue Heron, a permanent exhibit at the

Great Lakes Aquarium The Great Lakes Aquarium opened in 2000 and is located on the Duluth waterfront. A 501(c)(3) private nonprofit, Great Lakes Aquarium features animals and habitats found within the Great Lakes basin and other worldwide ecosystems such as the Amaz ...

, and public data portals for LLO-managed water quality instruments.

References

Ecological observatories {{observatory-stub