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Is Lake Michigan getting warmer?

It is just one of the Great Lakes experiencing warming temperatures. All of the Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario—have been warming for the past several decades. Scientists put this mainly down to climate change.



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According to the average of their simulation ensemble, by 2040–2049, the average annual water levels of Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron, and Erie are projected to increase by 0.19, 0.44, and 0.28 m, respectively, relative to 2010–2019 under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario.

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Climate change will exacerbate a range of risks to the Great Lakes, including changes in the range and distribution of some species, increases in invasive species and harmful blooms of algae, and declines in beach health. Ice cover declines will lengthen the commercial navigation season.

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Lake Michigan water levels are high and will keep rising, but nowhere near record levels.

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The primary driver of water levels are precipitation, evaporation, and river flow into the lakes, also referred to as net basin supply. The long term trend for both precipitation and evaporation has been upward over the last several decades.

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In winter, the precipitation amounts decline in the colder air. A loss of water level basically comes down to more water flowing out and evaporating than falling as precipitation.

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Threats to the Great Lakes' ecosystems, include invasive species, climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. Climate change affects water temperatures, weather patterns, and lake levels.

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According to the average of their simulation ensemble, by 2040–2049, the average annual water levels of Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron, and Erie are projected to increase by 0.19, 0.44, and 0.28 m, respectively, relative to 2010–2019 under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario.

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The Great Lakes are far cleaner today than in 1970 as a direct result of the Clean Water Act,” said Brammeier.

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Swimmers didn't find it too appealing, but it was popular for those who wanted to fish for trout. However, an analysis of satellite images between 1998 and 2012 showed that Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are now clearer than Lake Superior, which had always been the clearest of the Great Lakes in the past.

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Lake Erie is Dead Of all of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie had become predominantly polluted by the 1960s, largely due to the heavy industrial presence along its shores.

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The Great Lakes are more than capable of generating waves over 10 feet high, despite being smaller than our oceans. This lack in size actually increases the danger over the water. This is because the wave period in the Great Lakes (the time between two wave crests) is much shorter than in the ocean.

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While there have been past “sightings,” most have turned out to be pranks or misidentifications. The reality is that the largest of the Great Lakes (Lake Superior and Michigan) are extremely deep lakes that are too cold for sharks.

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Swift Currents At Lake Michigan Are The Real Danger The shapes of these waves are what contribute to rip tides, which are one of the most dangerous things swimmers can encounter in the water. Lake Michigan's riptide and longshore tides are unparalleled when it comes to danger among all the Great Lakes.

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When the lake is deep, and the angle of incoming light is smaller, Lake Michigan's color appears deep blue. This is because the light travels down with little obstructions and dissipates far below the surface. The light then appears darker in the visible spectrum.

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The water that replenishes the Great Lakes comes from precipitation, which is driven by the region's climate.

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