Climate is biggest factor in near-record low levels in 3 of the Great Lakes
Climate is the biggest factor in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron basin's near-record low levels, federal officials say
By Dave Alexander | [email protected]
on October 31, 2012 at 5:52 PM, updated October 31, 2012 at 6:02 PM
MUSKEGON, MI – When it comes to near record-low water levels in Michigan’s Great Lakes, it’s all about climate.
That was the message from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District Office on Wednesday as Great Lakes water-level experts for the federal government announced that Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior are within an inch or two of setting all-time record lows. The last time the upper lakes had so little water in them was in 1964.
A combination of last winter’s mild weather with little snow and this summer’s hot weather with little rain has caused all of the Great Lakes to be well below their long-term averages for October.
The water levels on the Great Lakes are driven by how much precipitation the region receives, how much runoff there is going into the lakes and how much evaporation is taking place, according to Keith Kompoltowicz, the chief hydrologist in the Army Corps’ Detroit District Office.
more...
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/climate_is_the_biggest_factor.html#incart_river
= new reply since forum marked as read
