WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WTAQ) - A small robotic submarine is helping scientists determine how climate change will affect young fish in Lake Michigan. Researchers at Purdue University are using a narrow 3-foot submarine to gather environmental and biological data.

The sub runs on batteries, and it’s pre-programmed to cover specific routes in Lake Michigan. Scientists say young fish are important to the lake’s eco-system – and they want to know how they’ll cope with climate change in the future.

Previous studies have shown that global warming might change the wind patterns on the Great Lakes – and those patterns could move fish nutrients to more shallow waters.