Climate Change: A bibliometric study of the Great Lakes Basin

The Great Lakes region of North America is experiencing climate-driven disturbances that threaten the safety and livelihoods of coastal communities and people. Limitations to the spatial and temporal coverage of research have the potential to hamper the ability to predict site-specific conditions and responses to climatic events. In this paper, we contextualize these spatial and temporal limitations of climate change research. Our summary reveals an uneven spatial distribution of research across the basin and publication outlets, with research focused on Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron, and the increasing availability of biological and ecological data to forecast future conditions. The spatial and temporal limitations related to historical data, region-wide monitoring efforts, research during the winter season, and the technological and methodological developments in natural resource management that can overcome these limitations are explored. Future research and emerging data needs are discussed, including the need for increased inclusion of the social sciences and improving relationships with Indigenous and First Nation communities in terms of research, data sharing, and governance.