Danger  Thing Ice sign near frozen lake
Credit: Rob Swystun/Flickr

As ice cover declines, scientists uncover lake secrets hidden in winter

Winter may be critical to lake ecosystems, with scientists now rushing to study under-ice processes as climate change shortens ice cover, altering fish, algae, and nutrient cycles.

Lydia Larsen reports for Inside Climate News.


In short:

  • Scientists long assumed winter played a minor role in lake ecology, but research reveals significant algae growth and nutrient cycling even under the ice.
  • Declining ice cover affects lake water quality, reduces carbon retention and disrupts cold-water fish species, impacting food webs and fisheries.
  • Winter fieldwork remains challenging due to equipment freezing, safety concerns and limited training, though new programs aim to improve research conditions.

Key quote:

“It’s sort of a feedback loop of ignorance… you implicitly assume nothing interesting or important goes on.”

— Ted Ozersky, associate professor, University of Minnesota-Duluth

Why this matters:

When lakes don’t freeze as they used to, the consequences ripple beyond a mere drop in winter recreation opportunities. We’re seeing reduced carbon retention in these aquatic systems, a factor that links lake health to broader climate impacts. This winter-to-summer disruption has big implications for lake communities that rely on these waters for food, recreation, and clean water. Read more: Together, toxics and climate change hinder fish growth.

INC-5 environmental groups and advocates calling for a strict global plastic treaty
Credit: UNEP

Environmental justice advocates criticize lack of inclusion in plastic treaty negotiations

“We had to fight for every second we had on the floor.”

Environmental justice and Indigenous groups say they were largely excluded from key plastic treaty talks last week in Busan, South Korea, which took place over seven days and ended without a final text.

Keep reading...Show less
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.
Paris street with children carrying climate posters

US defends Paris climate deal but faces criticism for lack of action

The U.S. defended its commitment to the Paris Agreement at a major international climate hearing, but critics questioned its lack of accountability for global warming’s damage.

Karen Zraick reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
global plastics treaty conference room

A plastics treaty could reshape global pollution but faces major hurdles

Negotiations for a global plastics treaty are progressing slowly, with countries divided over production limits, waste regulation, and scientific access, yet the commitment to further discussions remains a hopeful sign.

Editorial team writes for Nature.

Keep reading...Show less
Ontario Power Generation's Nanticoke generating station sign
Credit: JasonParis/Flickr

Ontario’s coal-free future sparks new energy dilemmas

A decade after Ontario’s landmark coal phase-out cleaned up its skies, the province now faces tough questions about how to ditch natural gas, a significant contributor to climate change.

Fatima Syed reports for The Narwhal.

Keep reading...Show less
statue of lady justice with scales and sword

Trump administration puts environmental justice funding in jeopardy

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition plans suggest potential cuts to environmental justice programs, threatening gains made under the Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative to combat pollution in vulnerable communities.

Amudalat Ajasa and Anna Phillips report for The Washington Post.

Keep reading...Show less
Storefronts in Asheville, North Carolina

Concerns grow over potential lead risks in Asheville’s water after hurricane

Two experts urge Asheville residents to conduct widespread testing for lead in drinking water following a treatment suspension caused by Tropical Storm Helene.

John Boyle reports for Asheville Watchdog.

Keep reading...Show less
London street with Bank of London in background

Banks fuel climate risk with $200 billion for new gas projects

A surge of liquefied natural gas projects could generate emissions rivaling all coal power plants worldwide, raising fears over climate goals.

The Guardian reports.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Resident speaks at an event about the Midwest hydrogen hub organized by Just Transition NWI.

What a Trump administration means for the federal hydrogen energy push

Legal and industry experts say there are uncertainties about the future of hydrogen hubs, a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s clean energy push.

unions climate justice

Op-ed: The common ground between labor and climate justice is the key to a livable future

The tale of “jobs versus the environment” does not capture the full story.

Union workers from SEIU holding climate protest signs at a rally in Washington DC

El terreno común entre los derechos laborales y la justicia climática es la clave de un futuro habitable

La narrativa de “empleos vs. proteger el medio ambiente” no cuenta la historia completa.

unions and labor movement

LISTEN: Pradnya Garud on the role of unions in climate justice

“They’ve been able to combine forces and really come forward to bring social and environmental change.”

People advocating against the US hydrogen hub build out

Hydrogen hubs test new federal environmental justice rules

A massive push for hydrogen energy is one of the first test cases of new federal environmental justice initiatives. Communities and advocates so far give the feds a failing grade.

photos of people protesting the hydrogen hub buildout

What’s hampering federal environmental justice efforts in the hydrogen hub build-out?

“Organizational change in large bureaucracies takes time.”

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.