(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – September 10, 2026) A 1965 ship’s engineer log preserved in the Algoma University Archives is providing Algoma U researchers a rare window into Great Lakes water temperatures, creating a valuable historical baseline for understanding the effect of climate change. The data could help researchers compare past and present water temperatures and improve models used to understand how climate change is affecting the Great Lakes.
Algoma University Professor of Biology Dr. Michael Twiss and undergraduate research assistant Hannah Logan recently published a paper based on temperature records collected aboard the SS Bayton, which travelled across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River from April to December 1965. The records, preserved in the St. Marys River Marine Society Collection at the Engracia de Jesus Matias Archives and Special Collections at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, document surface water temperatures at regular intervals throughout the ship’s voyages.
“I was particularly interested in the engineer’s logs since operating steamships efficiently requires an understanding of the ambient water temperature,” said Dr. Twiss. “The engineer, whose name we could not determine, of the SS Bayton kept detailed records of many parameters in the ship engine room, including surface water temperature. These measurements are a treasure trove for climate scientists.”
Historical surface water temperature data for the Great Lakes are limited. While some records from water treatment facilities go back decades, they generally represent nearshore areas. The SS Bayton, however, travelled throughout the Great Lakes, providing temperature measurements across a much broader area.
“What makes this data so valuable is that it gives us a picture of the Great Lakes from more than 60 years ago,” said Logan. “By knowing what water temperatures looked like in the past, we have a stronger foundation for understanding how the lakes are changing today and what those changes could mean for the future. These historical records can help researchers build a clearer picture of climate change across the Great Lakes and better prepare for what lies ahead.”
Logan used the ship’s recorded travel times and waypoints to estimate where each temperature measurement was taken. The SS Bayton made its final Great Lakes voyage in 1966, adding to the historical significance of the records. The research demonstrates how historical collections can become valuable resources for modern scientific research, helping researchers better understand changes taking place across the Great Lakes basin.
To view an image of the SS Bayton, click here.
Additional Quotes:
“The Engracia de Jesus Matias Archives serve as a repository for Northern Ontario’s heritage, culture, and community memory, including the development of the Great Lakes region and shipping on the Great Lakes. The engineer’s log book from the St. Marys River Marine Society Collection is an example of the value of preserving regional history and how recorded history can be applied to present-day issues. The archives empower scholars, educators, and community members to engage with primary documents that shape the ongoing story of the Algoma region.”
– Krista McCracken, Researcher and Curator at Algoma University
“One advantage that these data provide is information on water temperatures in the Great Lakes before the use of buoys that started in the 1980s and the use of high-resolution Earth observing satellites, which began in the mid 1990s. We have very little other ways to know what earlier temperatures were like at this degree of accuracy.”
– Dr. Mathew Wells, University of Toronto Professor, and collaborator with Dr. Twiss on Great Lakes water surface temperatures
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