Pristine Lake George to be Made a 'Smart Lake' to Monitor Climate Change

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, computer-maker IBM, and the nonprofit Fund for Lake George are teaming up to measure changes in the health of one of America’s cleanest lakes. When combined with data collected over past years by RPI, the information gleaned from 40 monitoring platforms will help scientists evaluate the impact of climate change on the lake.

The data collected by the program, named the Jefferson Project, could be used to both illuminate the past and better the future, David C. Richardson writes. “Some day, [scientists] may even be able to figure out ways to restore lakes like Lake George to their really pristine conditions--a valuable tool in a world where fresh water is becoming more and more scarce.”