Great Lake's Ice Cover is Declining

According to scientists of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “ice cover on the Great Lakes has declined more than 30 percent since the 1970s, leaving the world’s largest system of freshwater lakes open to evaporation and lower water levels.” This is happening especially in the deepest, middle portions of Erie, Huron, Ontario and Superior. The ice is shrinking in these parts the most because the deeper the water is, the more heat it stores from summer. This makes the shallow areas freeze later than the deeper areas. The lack of ice increases solar input which makes the deeper parts of the lake get warmer. This leads to less ice cover, then more evaporation, then shallower waters that warm faster and the cycle starts all over again.

The amount of ice cover can vary from year to year. It is said that, “global climate change and regional climate patterns are competing over the Great Lakes.” But the reality is that no one thing takes over. In fact, this winter had a very large and long-lasting ice cover at the Great Lakes but the overall trend is still showing a decline. Having the global climate change and regional climate patterns different makes it hard to separate the two. This might be why some people don’t believe that global climate change is happening, even though it is. Proof of temperature elevation can be showed at Lake Superior. Researches found that the lake’s surface temperate has warmed by 2.5 degrees Celsius since 1979.

Ice loss can cause a lot of problems at the Great Lakes. Fish that reproduce in the fall lay eggs that can be destroyed by winter waves from a lake with no ice, This habitat change could affect certain species. Coastal areas can have a higher level of erosion because the shore won't be protected by ice. Less winter recreation on the lakes will have to take place. Just last month, a miles-wide block of ice broke off from the shoreline of Lake Erie. It trapped 134 fishermen offshore who had to wait for hours to be rescued by helicopters and air boats that can glide across the ice. Unfortunately, one man did not make it.

The ice cover is different from year to year, but the overall coverage on the lakes is steadily decreasing. Some people think that this can only need to negative things so I would suggest more research on the lakes and studies on global climate change. Other people even think that "the loss of ice could actually lead to feedback effects which would make it easier for ice to form." Even if this is true, predicting the climate patterns and how it will affect us is something we cannot do.