Climate change to make Great Lakes muddier

(Photo of Lake Erie with ice from Flickr and photographer kuddlyteddybear2004/Mark K.)

News Update: Global warming, if allowed to continue, will change the climate of the Midwest so it feels like the Deep South, according to a researcher at the University of Illinois. And as temperatures go up – in summer, between 5 and 15 degrees – the Great Lakes, which hold 20% of the world’s fresh surface water – will shrink. Without ice cover, for example, Lake Erie’s level could go down 1.2 feet by 2050, said atmospheric scientist Don Wuebbles. As water evaporates and levels go down, it will not only interrupt shipping but increased algae and sediment will make the waters muddier, he said. For one who lives on the Great Lakes, this is distressing news. I won't be here in 2050 but my grandchildren will. The lakes are a wonderful resource, not only for the ever-shrinking water supply, but for beauty, boating, fishing, swimming and a shipping economy. Let's not lose them. (Sources: Greenwire, Sandusky Register)

Great Lakes threatened by climate change

(Photo of Lake Michigan at Petoskey from Flickr and photographer .jowo/Joel Dinda.)

News Update 2: Climate change will hurt the Great Lakes ecosystem, a report released last week says. Even worse, it will put pressure on the 8 states and 2 Canadian provinces bordering the lakes to sell water to other states and even other countries as droughts get worse and the value of water goes up. To meet the diversion threat, states in the Great Lakes basin have formed a compact not to divert the water. Wisconsin was the 6th state to sign on last week. But the agreement must be ratified by Congress. Will reps from other regions be willing to do that? The Great Lakes contain 20% of the world’s fresh surface water. Other climate change threats to the lakes include invasive species interrupting the food chain for fish, shallow water disrupting shipping, and stronger storms sending more pollution into the lakes. Tourist activities like fishing, skiing, snowmobiling and swimming will likely be hurt by the warming of the region and changes in the lakes. Learn more and download the report. (Sources: ClimateWire, National Wildlife Federation)