Great Lakes see little ice as warmer temperatures persist
The Great Lakes — known for ice fishing and frozen winter waves — rang in the New Year almost naked.
The Great Lakes — known for ice fishing and frozen winter waves — rang in the New Year almost naked.
Ice covered less than 0.4% of the Great Lakes on New Year's Day, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, which uses satellite data to measure ice concentrations.
“It’s basically nothing,” said James Kessler, a physical scientist with the laboratory, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “We have about 50 years of data. On Jan. 1, the average for today is about 9%.”
Kessler said that while the ice coverage is well below normal, it’s not unprecedented to have ice concentrations below 1% on Jan. 1, when it’s still early in the season.
The amount of ice on the Great Lakes — Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario — determines when and how raw materials and cargo can be shipped from Midwest ports. Fish species, like whitefish, depend on ice cover to protect their eggs for reproduction. Lower ice levels could increase erosion and contribute to shifting weather patterns in the region.
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