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U-M divers retrieve 8,900-year-old piece of wood from Lake Huron
Annarbor.com (12/12)
University of Michigan researchers announced they have found a 5 1/2 foot long, pole-shaped piece of wood that is 8,900 years old in Lake Huron.
RIVERKEEPERS: Tending the waterways
Niagara Gazette (2/6)
The goal of the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper is two-fold: protecting the water quantity and the quality, as well as connecting people to the waterfront.
Internationally renowned ‘Ocean Doctor’ to speak in Grand Rapids
MLive.com (2/3)
Known as the “Ocean Doctor,” David Guggenheim will speak in Grand Rapids, Mich., about the many similarities between the threats to the oceans and to our Great Lakes.
SUNY Fredonia to lead Great Lakes pollution study
Wall Street Journal (2/3)
Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes will be the focus of a study this summer. Led by the State University of New York at Fredonia, researchers will try to quantify the amount of plastic polluting the fresh water Great Lakes.
SSC students taking part in marine science bowl
Arenac County Independent (1/31)
Teams of Michigan high school students will be heading to Ann Arbor this weekend to take part in the annual Great Lakes Bowl, a quiz event that focuses on questions about marine and freshwater systems and biology.
No aquarium for Windsor
CBC News (1/31)
Aquariums in Cleveland, Toledo, and Chicago prove to be too much competition for Windsor.
What's going on in your neighborhood this month? Meet other people and learn together at recreational and educational events! Our new dynamic calendar is updated daily with current educational events.
3 | The changing lake levels
Why have the lake levels been so low during the past couple of years?
The Great Lakes are in a very unusual situation right now. Lake Superior's water levels are the lowest they've been since 1925; lakes Michigan and Huron are the lowest they've been since 1965.
The main cause for the current low lake levels is lack of snow precipitation, mainly in the northern part of the basin. The region has also experienced warmer temperatures than it usually does. Temperatures in the Great Lakes basin two years ago were the warmest ever recorded. When the temperatures are high, plants require more water; so plants are using more precipitation and groundwater than usual, decreasing the amount that reaches the lakes.
Evaporation: Why the Great Lakes are unique (49 seconds)
Also, there has been less ice on the lakes during the winter because of the warm temperatures, which leads to more evaporation. In smaller lakes, the highest evaporation rates occur in the summer. But the Great Lakes hold large amounts of heat because of their size; therefore, the highest evaporation rates occur in the fall and early winter on the Great Lakes. When the cold and dry Canadian air comes over the lakes, that air is heated, and heated air absorbs more moisture. So as air comes over the Great Lakes, the air literally sucks up the water. Much of that water is dumped back on the land once it cools off, which is known as lake-effect snows.
It's interesting to hear people's reactions to the recent low lake levels. Up until a couple of years ago, the basin had seen about 30 years of high lake levels. Many people don't remember or weren't around for the last low lake level period, which was during the 1960's. Right now, people are seeing docks that lead to nowhere because the shoreline has retreated and they're seeing large beaches and rocky lake bottoms. It's an interesting time for residents and researchers alike to be studying the lakes.
Also see TEACH's module, Water Levels on the Great Lakes.
Graphic: Low lake levels on Lake Michigan.
