Demonstrating a Lake Superior particle tracking model for research and management applications
Sandborn DE , Austin JA , Lafrancois BM . 2025. Demonstrating a Lake Superior particle tracking model for research and management applications. Science Report. NPS/SR—2025/364. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2316131
A particle tracking model was deployed in a preliminary study of Lake Superior particle dynamics. It was driven by the Great Lakes Operational Forecast System (GLOFS) hydrodynamic model output and run using OceanTracker, an open-source particle tracking software package. This report details the results of several experiments applying this particle tracking program to aquatic invasive species transport, harmful algal bloom dynamics, and pollution transport in and around Lake Superior, with particular emphasis on two national park units (Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Isle Royale National Park). The first experiment found particle transport times on the scale of days between the park regions and major tributaries known to host Dreissenid mussels, illustrating a potential intra-lake vector of invasion. The second experiment highlighted hotspots of pelagic and nearshore accumulation of particles, demonstrating the potential for larval or pollutant aggregation and deposition. The third experiment sought to backtrack observed harmful algal blooms to infer bloom drivers and found an association between advective transport of water from the St. Louis River estuary to remote locations and blooms. While further development of particle tracking experiment methods is needed to refine the experiments detailed in this work, the model demonstrated potential for extension to other Laurentian Great Lakes and application to important questions in limnology and water resources.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Sandborn, Daniel; Austin, Jay; Lafrancois, Brenda
- Date of Issue
- 2025-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2316131
- Units
- APIS , GLKN , ISRO , NRSS
- Keywords
- AIS, GLKN External Publication, GLKN General, hydrodynamic, Lake Superior, model, particle tracking