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GL / Climate on the Great Lakes

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Last updated in September, 2000

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" The weather in the Great Lakes basin is affected by three factors: air masses from other regions, the location of the basin within a large continental landmass, and the moderating influence of the lakes themselves. The prevailing movement of air is from the west. The characteristically changeable weather of the region is the result of alternating flows of warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico and cold, dry air from the Arctic." (Source: Great Lakes Atlas: Climate)

1. How is climate in the Great Lake regions influenced by the Great Lakes?
2. In winter, the Great Lakes region is affected by two major air masses. Explain these air masses and their impact on the climate.
3. Explain several climate characteristics in the Great Lake regions, depending on four seasons?

1. LAKERS (Lake-Aware Kids Engaged in Relevant Science
2. EP-079 The Great Lake Erie
3. EP-083 Earth Systems - Education Activities for Great Lakes Schools (ES-EAGLS): Climate and Water Movement
4. EP-081 The Great Lakes Solution Seeker

1. The Great Lake Erie

4. The Effect of Lake Erie on Climate

2. Earth Systems - Education Activities for Great Lakes Schools (ES-EAGLS)

Climate and Water Movement

How do the Great Lakes affect temperature?
How is weather influenced by the Great Lakes?
What causes storm surges?
How do storm surges affect water levels on Lake Erie?
What factors impact ice coverage on the Great Lakes?
What happens to heat energy reaching the Great Lakes?
How do the Great Lakes change through the seasons?

3. Great Lakes Instructional Materials for the Changing Earth System

Is the globe warming? Is there evidence in the Great Lakes region?
How do greenhouse gases affect heat absorption?
Why don't all scientists agree that global warming is in progress?
How is the precipitation of the Great Lakes Basin related to lake level change?
What extremes of climate characterize the Great Lakes region?
What Great Lakes factors will increase and what will decrease as a result of global warming?
What will people see on the long walk to the water's edge?

Order form

Winter Temperatures and Ice Conditions, Frost Free Period and Air Masses, Summer Temperatures, Precipitation and Snowbelt Areas Source: Great Lakes Atlas: Climate)

Lake Erie Average Lake Level Lake Erie Precipitation
(source: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory)

1. Climate Summaries for the Midwest (11 states)
http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/Summary/index.html

2. National Weather Service: Office of Meteorology
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/

3. Great Lakes Forecasting System's Wind Field
http://superior.eng.ohio-state.edu/nowcast/erie/noframes/w.html

4. North American wind vector map with Jet Stream.
http://squall.sfsu.edu/gif/jetstream_h24_00.gif

5.NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/rsch/ahps/curfcst/

6. Great Lakes Net Basin Supply Forecast Model
http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/glakes.html

Index Page | Site Map | Earth Systems Education | Ohio Sea Grant | Contact Us