October 13, 2008
Great Lakes Basin and Climate Change
Toxic algae, invasive species, lower lake levels and other maladies will affect the Great Lakes Basin over the next 50 years due to climate change. A new report from the Toledo Blade (with video) tells us some of the events that will hit the region over the next century.
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October 9, 2008
Waterborne Disease On The Rise
An increase of climate-related rainfall events in the Great Lakes region may raise the public health risk for the 40 million people who depend on the lakes for their drinking water.
In a report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a team of Wisconsin researchers reports that a trend toward extreme weather such as the monsoon-like rainfall events is likely to aggravate the risk for outbreaks of waterborne disease in the Great Lakes region.
Millions of raw sewage flowed into Lake Michigan after spring rains overwhelmed storm sewers throughout the Midwest.
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July 17, 2008
Lakes and Climate Change
How is global warming or climate change effecting lakes around the world? Scientists are slowly trying to find out, with one woman leading the charge. Anne Hershey has spent close to thirty years at the Toolik Field Station in Northern...
Continue reading "Lakes and Climate Change"
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June 9, 2008
Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes
Major storms have raced across the U.S. with a force not seen in recent history. Lakes, streams, rivers and storm sewers are overflowing in all directions. People are being evacuated from their homes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and other states.... Continue reading "Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes"
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May 28, 2008
Global Warming and the Great Lakes
A report by the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition warns that the U.S. should act to help stop global warming or Great Lakes water levels could drop up to 3 feet. Highlights from the report are as follows: Temperatures in... Continue reading "Global Warming and the Great Lakes"
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May 14, 2008
Lakes and Climate Change
A new study is underway in Minnesota to see what is happening to lakes as the average temperature in the state continues to rise. The study by Don Pereira will focus on fish populations, such as pike and walleye. In... Continue reading "Lakes and Climate Change"
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May 2, 2008
Lake Baikal and Climate Change
60 years of studies on Russia's Lake Baikal show warming of the world’s largest lake is a clear signal that climate change has a foothold worldwide. The lake contains 20 percent of the world's freshwater, and it is large enough... Continue reading "Lake Baikal and Climate Change"
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May 1, 2008
Global Warming and the Great Lakes (Video)
Watch this short video that tries to explain what is happening to the Great Lakes and Lake Michigan ecosystems, as climate change grips the region.... Continue reading "Global Warming and the Great Lakes (Video)"
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April 21, 2008
Lake Superior Study
Researchers from the University of Minnesota, Duluth are studying Lake Superior beginning this summer to find the link between winter ice cover, rising water temperatures and global warming. Lake Superior's surface water temperature has risen twice as fast as air... Continue reading "Lake Superior Study"
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March 25, 2008
Climate Change and Lake Tahoe
Researchers from the University of California at Davis believe that climate change will alter water circulation in Lake Tahoe, changing native plant and fish species in the lake within the next ten years. The nighttime air temperature at the lake... Continue reading "Climate Change and Lake Tahoe"
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February 19, 2008
Waterfowl and Lakes
Many species of waterfowl are wintering along the north shore of Lake Erie and other northern lakes. The prevalence of year-round waterfowl in the north is one sign winters have become milder. Changes in migratory patterns have become so pronounced... Continue reading "Waterfowl and Lakes"
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February 13, 2008
Lake Mead and Lake Powell Running Dry
Lake Mead and Lake Powell may be dry by 2021 unless changes take place in the watershed. Growing population and global warming could wipe out the lakes according to scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Changes could include boosting... Continue reading "Lake Mead and Lake Powell Running Dry"
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January 29, 2008
Lakes Ice Cover
Here is a story out of Michigan that the Midwest Lakes Policy Center has reported on a few times. The fact that lakes around the country are freezing over later in the winter, and thawing out earlier in the spring.... Continue reading "Lakes Ice Cover"
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January 15, 2008
Presidential Candidates and the Environment
Are you wondering what the various presidential candidates from both parties think about global warming, water shortages, and the state of our lakes, oceans and rivers? Well, check out this handy guide compiled by the League of Conservation Voters to... Continue reading "Presidential Candidates and the Environment"
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January 11, 2008
Where Has The Ice Gone?
Records show that later freezing and earlier ice breakup occurred on lakes and rivers across the Northern Hemisphere from 1846 to 1995. Changes in freeze dates averaged 5.8 days per 100 years later, and changes in ice breakup dates averaged... Continue reading "Where Has The Ice Gone?"
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January 3, 2008
Sentinel Lakes Pilot Project
24 lakes across Minnesota will be studied to see how the state’s lakes are handling global warming, development, invasive species and urban runoff. The Sentinel Lakes Pilot Project will begin in 2008, and is a joint effort of the Minnesota... Continue reading "Sentinel Lakes Pilot Project"
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January 2, 2008
Global Warming and Lakes
Lakes in the Upper Midwest are seeing fewer and fewer days between freeze "ice in" and thaw "ice out" dates. The cause can be linked to global warming with over a hundred years of data to back up the claims.... Continue reading "Global Warming and Lakes"
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December 11, 2007
Global Warming and the Great Lakes
Researchers have reported new evidence that water levels in the Great Lakes may be shrinking due to global warming. The study examines water level data for Lakes Michigan and Huron over more than a century. Water levels in the Great... Continue reading "Global Warming and the Great Lakes"
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November 5, 2007
Great Lakes Shrinkage Theory
Higher water temperatures and an increase in wind speeds over Lake Superior appear to be factors in the decline in water level. Water temperatures on Lake Superior have risen twice as fast as air temperatures in the past 25 years.... Continue reading "Great Lakes Shrinkage Theory"
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October 17, 2007
The Carbon Cycle and Humic Lakes
As part of the carbon cycle, bacterial communities in most lakes break down carbon in decaying organic matter, converting it into carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. In humic lakes, which contain high levels of decaying organic matter,... Continue reading "The Carbon Cycle and Humic Lakes"
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July 9, 2007
Lake Disappears in Chile
Scientists blamed global warming for the disappearance of a glacial lake in remote southern Chile that faded away in two months, leaving just a crater behind. The disappearance of the lake in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park has park rangers and... Continue reading "Lake Disappears in Chile"
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June 11, 2007
Temperature and Lakes
The density of water is greatest at 4 Celsius (39.2 F) it becomes less dense as water warms and as it approaches freezing. The density of ice is only.917 which is why ice floats. Only very shallow lakes ever freeze... Continue reading "Temperature and Lakes"
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April 26, 2007
Kakagon Sloughs
Water in Lake Superior has reached a near-record low of 182.86 meters, according to the NOAA. A drop of about 6 inches will bring it within reach of the historic low of 182.69 meters set in 1926. The Kakagon Sloughs,... Continue reading "Kakagon Sloughs"
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April 19, 2007
Great Lakes Region
Global warming is likely to dramatically alter the Great Lakes region in the coming decades, making the world's largest body of fresh water shallower and dirtier while hurting the region's ability to capitalize on its greatest natural resource. That's the... Continue reading "Great Lakes Region"
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April 12, 2007
Where Will The Water Come From?
Climate change may diminish North American water supplies and trigger disputes between the United States and Canada over water reserves. More heat waves like those that killed people across the United States in 2006, killer hurricanes that struck the Gulf... Continue reading "Where Will The Water Come From?"
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February 16, 2007
Antarctic Lakes
Scientists studying the effect of global warming on melting of polar ice sheets have discovered a network of lakes beneath the huge West Antarctic ice sheet. The data will help them understand the behavior of Antarctica's fast-moving ice streams, which... Continue reading "Antarctic Lakes"
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February 8, 2007
Great Lakes and Global Warming
Global warming could lower water levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron by 5 feet over the next century, according to new data generated for a United Nations study of climate change. Such a change would disrupt the Great Lakes... Continue reading "Great Lakes and Global Warming"
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January 5, 2007
Lake St. Clair
Mild temperatures around the U.S. keep lakes from freezing, here Lake St. Clair is free of any form of ice in early January. The smallest lake in the Great Lakes system, Lake St. Clair is not considered to be... Continue reading "Lake St. Clair"
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December 30, 2006
Bald Eagles
State wildlife officials in Iowa say many eagles remain near inland waterways because of the mild weather. Normally, Iowa's cold, icy winters drive the birds to rivers to forage for food when inland waters freeze over. The tail water areas... Continue reading "Bald Eagles"
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November 17, 2006
Lake Nakuru
The famous flamingos of Lake Nakuru, Kenya are vanishing. The birds are dying from environmental threats in a shrinking Lake Nakuru, the home that has sheltered them for centuries. Just six years ago as many as 1 million flamingos... Continue reading "Lake Nakuru"
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November 15, 2006
Wisconsin Water
Over the past two summers, the Little Plover River in Wisconsin has dried up, showing the need for water conservation in Portage County. Dropping groundwater levels can create major problems, from drying up of private wells, to an increase in... Continue reading "Wisconsin Water"
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October 13, 2006
Alaskan Lakes
More than 10,000 Alaskan lakes have changed in size or disappeared between 1950 and 2002 according to a new study. The study finds that Alaska has experienced a warming climate with longer growing season. Also, increased thawing of permafrost, and... Continue reading "Alaskan Lakes"
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September 28, 2006
Jellyfish
A creature rarely seen by most residents of the Midwest is showing up in local lakes, probably because of high water temperatures and low water levels. Freshwater jellyfish have been reported in a ever increasing number of lakes. Most people...Link to this article | Comments (0)
September 18, 2006
Great Lakes
Canada and the United States are launching a $17.5 million study to determine why water levels in the upper Great Lakes have declined over the past several years. The study by the International Joint Commission will consider a number of... Continue reading "Great Lakes"
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September 12, 2006
Lake Sakakawea
Low water at Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota is being blamed for a massive fish kill of trout at a fish hatchery there. The lake on the Missouri River is the source of cold water for the Garrison Dam National Fish... Continue reading "Lake Sakakawea"
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September 7, 2006
Siberian Lakes
Global warming is causing Siberian lakes to bubble methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere at a rapid rate. While methane in the atmosphere warms the planet, the Russian pools are intensifying the climate change that boosted their seepage in... Continue reading "Siberian Lakes"
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August 30, 2006
Lake Erie Shoreline
The Lake Erie shoreline could look drastically different by the middle of the century. This according to the latest estimates from the group, Environment Canada. The agency says changes in global climate could cause Lake Erie's water level to fall... Continue reading "Lake Erie Shoreline"
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August 3, 2006
Europe's Lakes
Water levels in many European rivers and lakes are at record lows and the water is becoming dangerously warm following a month long drought. Despite storms that swept across Germany last month, the country had less than 70 percent of... Continue reading "Europe's Lakes"
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April 18, 2006
Greenhouse Gas
The Environmental Protection Agency states that there are six main greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change – carbon dioxide being the biggest United States emitter. In 2004, carbon dioxide contributed to 85 percent of United States emissions. Although carbon... Continue reading "Greenhouse Gas"
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April 5, 2006
Canadian Prairies
Canada's Prairies will face an unprecedented water crisis in coming years due to declining river flows and growing water usage especially in processing Alberta's vast oil sands. Summer flows in Prairie rivers are already 20 to 80 percent lower than... Continue reading "Canadian Prairies"
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March 8, 2006
Ice Cover
Much of America is experiencing fewer days of ice cover on lakes and rivers in various regions. For people into ice fishing, this winter has mostly been one of heartache. It hasn't been the first one, and according to a...Link to this article | Comments (0)
February 9, 2006
Arctic Lakes
Thousands of Arctic lakes are disappearing as a result of global warming. The normally frozen soil, or permafrost, that makes the lake beds watertight is thawing, allowing the water to drain away. The loss of these lakes could endanger native... Continue reading "Arctic Lakes"
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February 7, 2006
Ice Cover
With less ice cover on lakes, evaporation is becoming a problem across the Midwest. Overall, the Great Lakes are 2 to 12 inches below the levels of a year ago. Lake Superior is expected to fall 2 inches over the...Link to this article | Comments (0)
January 31, 2006
Lake-Effect Snow
We have been asked many times what lake-effect snow is; so here is a simple definition that should help answer many of those questions. When cold, dry wind blows over the Great Lakes, water quickly evaporates into the dry air.... Continue reading "Lake-Effect Snow"
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January 27, 2006
Lake Chad
Lake Chad is disappearing. Satellite images published this week showed that you could walk across an expanse of what was once one of the world's largest lakes without getting your feet wet. In the past four decades the lake has...Link to this article | Comments (0)
January 12, 2006
Global Warming
Another warm spell this winter brings out the great global warming debate. On average lakes around the world have three weeks less ice cover per winter than even fifty years ago. What does this mean for fish and other animals... Continue reading "Global Warming"
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October 12, 2005
Environmental Future
A deteriorating environment could drive about 50 million people from their homes by 2010 and the world needs to define a new category of "environmental" refugee, a U.N. study said on Tuesday. Desertification, rising sea levels, flooding and storms linked... Continue reading "Environmental Future"
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