Decline in lake ice is an early influence of climate change. These lakes are scattered across the landscape where people live. Lakes in Wisconsin and around the Northern Hemisphere have been freezing over later and breaking up sooner. Some are even beginning to not not freeze over every winter. Cultural resources such as skating and ice fishing, are being lost in areas where lake ice has been considered a permanent part of their sense of place.

John Magnuson is emeritus professor in the Department of Zoology, UW-Madison