Watching Climate Change: Polar Vortex Hits Great Lakes

A swirling polar vortex is depicted by the Goddard Earth Observing System Model on Jan 29, 2019. (Photo: NASA Earth Observatory)

What Does the Polar Vortex Really Indicate?

For much of the Great Lakes region that has been caught up in a polar vortex this past week it may not seem like the climate is warming. But NASA shows that the transfer of cold air from the North pole towards the surrounding regions is actually related to warming at the poles: The Other Side of the Vortex.


Predicting High Temperatures and Extreme Precipitation

Despite the cold weather, a research article published October, 2018 by Elsevier suggests that we can expect a continued increase in temperatures and precipitation across the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin in the next several decades.

The article was produced by researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Canada; the Aquatic Research and Development Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry; and the University of Exeter, United Kingdom.

Full Research Article: Projected Extreme Temperatures and Precipitation of the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin by Liang Zhanga,b, Yingming Zhaoa,b, David Hein-Griggsc, Lyndon Barra, and Jan J.H. Ciborowskia.

Using a regional climate model they predicted a general rise in the annual number of extremely hot days (≥32°C) and decrease in annual number of extremely cold days (≤18°C) in the Great Lakes Region. Models like this one are great for getting an idea about what we might expect for the future, but knowing what is actually happening requires monitoring in the present, and one of the easiest things to monitor is ice coverage


Satellite image of Laurentian Great Lakes on Jan 27, 2019. (Photo: NASA Earth Observatory)

Ice Coverage as a Monitor for Climate Change

Ice coverage on Lake Superior is a useful indicator for climate change effects, as we learned from last issues article, linked below. Furthermore, Lianna Lopez of York University published The Meltdown: How Climate Change is Affecting Ice on Lake Superior on Jan 11, where she states that lake ice is an essential factor in fish spawning, fish species competition and phytoplankton blooms. You can get involved in monitoring lake ice as well by registering with IceWatch as a Citizen Scientist, just Click Here.

Links

InfoSuperior: How Well Do We Know Lake Superior As an Indicator Of Climate Change?

CBC: Saugeen Ojibway Nation confronts effects of climate change on whitefish fishery

National Geographic: Lakes Are Shedding Winter Ice at Record Pace

Inside Climate News: New Great Lakes Governors target Climate Change


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