The Great Lakes, known for ice fishing and winter's frozen waves, rang out a nearly bare New Year's bell.
Less than 0.4% of ice covered the Great Lakes on New Year's Day, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Institute, which uses satellite data to measure ice concentrations.
“There's basically nothing,” said James Kessler, a physical scientist at the institute, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “We have about 50 years of data. Today's average for January 1st is about 9%.”
Kessler said that although ice coverage is well below normal, it is not unheard of for ice concentrations to fall below 1% on January 1, 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 are shipped from ports in the Midwest. Fish species such as whitefish are covered in ice to protect their eggs for reproduction. Lower ice levels could increase erosion and contribute to changes in weather patterns in the region.
Kessler said temperatures have been unseasonably high this season, making it difficult for ice to form on the lake's surface. According to his research, the Great Lakes' annual ice area varies greatly from year to year, but tends to decline at a rate of about 5% every decade.
“This is certainly a sign of climate change,” he says.
Ice typically reaches its maximum extent from mid-February to early March. In a typical year, about 40% of the Great Lakes are covered in ice at peak times.
Last year, ice coverage reached about 23% and by mid-February the ice had diminished. just covered 7% of the lake.
In 2023, Earth experienced its hottest year on record, largely due to human-induced climate change. Researchers expect temperatures to rise further this year due to El Niño, a natural climate pattern that releases ocean heat into the atmosphere.El Niño winter Warmer trends across the Great Lakes region.
seasonal outlook Temperatures in the Great Lakes region are expected to be higher than normal this year. below average ice.
Forecasters expect little change this week.
Over the next five days, “temperatures are expected to remain near normal across the Great Lakes region, making the forecast less favorable for ice growth,” one report said. Ice outlook prepared by the National Weather Service in Cleveland.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
