Lecture (in-person only): Lake Superior and Its Gales

Presenter: Paul McKinney, Ph.D., Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota

Summary: Lake Superior holds a special place in a Minnesotan’s sense of place. Cold, deep and clean, the lake embodies rugged wilderness that appeals to a traditional Minnesotan ideal. A key part of the lake’s mystique is its reputation for intense storms, perhaps the most famous recent example being the storm of November 1975 which resulted in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. On the 50th anniversary of that event, this presentation will review the lake’s physical geography and limnological research on the lake with a focus on how storms affect the lake’s ecology. The lake’s size and physical characteristics challenge traditional limnological research methods and I will discuss how models, remote sensing and autonomous vehicles are used by investigators to fill that gap. I will explore how seasonal cycles and differences in storm characteristics such as wind direction and rainfall amount contribute to ecological impacts and how climate change could impact those relationships.

This lecture will be recorded for GSM's YouTube Channel.

Biography: Paul McKinney received his PhD in Geology from the University of Minnesota Department of Earth Sciences in 2015 under advisor Dr. Katsumi Matsumoto. His dissertation work combined remote sensing and hydrodynamic modeling of Lake Superior with an emphasis on nearshore processes. He held post-doctoral appointments at UMD Large Lakes Observatory and USEPA Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division in Duluth, MN from 2016-2023, where he operated autonomous underwater gliders on projects throughout the Great Lakes. Since returning full time to Minneapolis his focus is spending time with family and home maintenance.

General Info: GSM lectures/seminars with slide show presentations are free and open to the public. They are presented by leading professionals in their fields and are aimed at learners from high school to adult. A question-and-answer session follows each seminar. In-person lectures require no registration; just show up a few minutes early on the evening of the lecture. These lectures are eligible for 1 hour of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit.

Except as noted, in-person lectures during the fall 2025 semester are Mondays at 7:00 PM CT on the University of Minnesota campus, Keller Hall, Room 3-230.

Our full schedule of lectures and labs is posted at Current Year Lectures, and a printable (PDF) version is posted here. Our schedule is planned over 6 months in advance, so changes may occur; always check our home page shortly before each lecture for the latest seminar information.

Winter weather will come and snow might impact our lectures. The GSM will make any decision about cancelling or postponing a lecture due to inclement weather no later than 3:00 PM the day of the lecture. This information will be posted on the GSM home page, so check that page shortly before each lecture in case there is a cancellation or a last-minute change. Also, we will e‐mail lecture postponement and cancellation information to our dues-paying members.