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The American Meteorological Society says that the amount of ice covering the Great Lakes has decreased over 71% in the past 40 years. A drop that the author of the report attributes to climate change, El Nino and La Nina. The report published last month said only about 5 percent of the Great Lakes surface froze over this year.
We have a cottage on Lake Superior. The water has been slightly down over the last decade. However, about 4 years ago we had a very low water level. I don't recall that that winter was particularly warm, so I think a few other factors come into play as well as far as water level. The weather has been getting warmer, but perhaps a bit wetter too.
I would hate to see the lake warm significantly. It's tough to swim in, but the cold keeps it so very clear.
Jesus fucking Christ. Its day 2 of spring and many trees have buds or flowers on them here in Detroit. Guess you can't have any ice coverage when its 82ยบ in March. Wacky weather we're having, and its sad. Between the economy and the weather almost every independent snow mobile dealer has gone out of business here in the last few years. Not a winter paradise here anymore.
thenewgreen · 4415 days ago · link ·
Sounds like it's great for the Ferry industry.
Seriously though, what are the potential impacts of the lakes not freezing over? What does it do the the ecology of the lakes and how does it impact commerce etc? What are the impacts I'm not even considering?
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the lead author of the publication states that that diminished ice can accelerate wintertime evaporation, causing water levels to fall. The lack of ice could also lead to earlier and increased algae blooms that can damage water quality, and could speed up erosion by exposing more shoreline to waves.