Meteorological Technology International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Agriculture
      • Automated Weather Stations
      • Aviation
      • Climate Measurement
      • Data
      • Developing Countries
      • Digital Applications
      • Early Warning Systems
      • Extreme Weather
    • G-P
      • Hydrology
      • Lidar
      • Lightning Detection
      • New Appointments
      • Nowcasting
      • Numerical Weather Prediction
      • Polar Weather
    • R-S
      • Radar
      • Rainfall
      • Remote Sensing
      • Renewable Energy
      • Satellites
      • Solar
      • Space Weather
      • Supercomputers
    • T-Z
      • Training
      • Transport
      • Weather Instruments
      • Wind
      • World Meteorological Organization
      • Meteorological Technology World Expo
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • April 2023
    • September 2022
    • April 2022
    • September 2021
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
  • Sign-up for Free Weekly E-Newsletter
  • Meet the Editors
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
LinkedIn Facebook
Subscribe
Meteorological Technology International
  • News
      • Agriculture
      • Automated Weather Stations
      • Aviation
      • Climate Measurement
      • Data
      • Developing Countries
      • Digital Applications
      • Early Warning Systems
      • Extreme Weather
      • Hydrology
      • Lidar
      • Lightning Detection
      • New Appointments
      • Nowcasting
      • Numerical Weather Prediction
      • Polar Weather
      • Radar
      • Rainfall
      • Remote Sensing
      • Renewable Energy
      • Satellites
      • Solar
      • Space Weather
      • Supercomputers
      • Training
      • Transport
      • Weather Instruments
      • Wind
      • World Meteorological Organization
      • Meteorological Technology World Expo
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. September 2023
    2. April 2023
    3. September 2022
    4. April 2022
    5. Archive Issues
    6. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    August 10, 2023

    In this Issue – September 2023

    By Web TeamAugust 10, 2023
    Recent

    In this Issue – September 2023

    August 10, 2023

    In this Issue – April 2023

    April 18, 2023

    In this Issue – September 2022

    August 12, 2022
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
Facebook LinkedIn
Meteorological Technology International
Hydrology

Coastal hazards along America’s Great Lakes likely to increase with climate change

Dan SymondsBy Dan SymondsJune 24, 20223 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Lake Superior, Michigan - credit: Pixabay/csbonawitz
Share
LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email

Researchers from Michigan Technological University have warned that the baseline lake level for Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron and Erie are expected to rise between 20-50cm by 2050 because of climate change.

The Great Lakes in the Midwest USA comprise the largest unfrozen freshwater stores on Earth, but the study warns that too much of a good thing can create problems.

Like sea level rise, higher lake levels can increase coastal erosion, change navigation considerations, and increase the risk of coastal flooding. More than 30 million people live along the lakes’ 4,500 miles of coastline in the USA and Canada, including the cities of Chicago, Detroit and Buffalo, New York. Storms and flooding associated with recent record highs have already caused problems in each area.

Presented at the Frontiers in Hydrology meeting on June 23, the study improves upon previous predictions for how water levels in Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron and Erie will change in the coming decades. Climate modeler Pengfei Xue, of Michigan Technological University, and his team combined a high-resolution regional climate model and a 3D hydrodynamic model, along with hydrologic models, to hone projections for lake-level rise.

The study primarily analyzed precipitation over the lakes, evaporation rates, basin runoff, and inter-lake flows to see how lake level would change by 2050, under the highest-emission scenario. The new, advanced modeling system the researchers developed allowed each of those factors to influence each other in a more realistic way than ever before modeled.

“While we know that all these components must be analyzed and projected holistically, the lake-atmosphere interactions were oversimplified in the past,” said Xue. “What we have built is a system that gives a better representation of the complexity of hydrodynamics and lake-atmosphere interaction and contributes to a more advanced modeling framework necessary for improving the Great Lakes’ hydroclimate projections. This is particularly evident through the markedly improved simulation of lake evaporation.”

While there is uncertainty in the precise magnitude of change due to underlying uncertainty in the climate models, the new modeling system projects the lake levels will increase on average compared to the 2010-2019 period. Based on the average of the models, the water level of Lake Superior is projected to rise 19cm, Lake Erie by 28cm, and the Lake Michigan-Huron system by 44cm on average. But at the high end of the possible range, Lake Erie could see 54cm of rise and Lake Michigan-Huron could see 80cm of rise.

Higher lake levels mean that storms, flooding events and natural variability will have more extreme impacts on the lake shores, and coastal decision makers will have to adapt to higher lake levels in the coming years.

“Looking at the coastal hazards, their probability is going to increase and they will be more severe,” added Xue.

Previous ArticleCampbell Scientific selected by Dutch met agency to upgrade observation network
Next Article WMO Covid-19 Research Task Team issues recommendations

Read Similar Stories

Climate Measurement

Major methane leak in the UK detected using satellites

September 22, 20232 Mins Read
Extreme Weather

Record-breaking wildfires throughout the 2023 boreal wildfire season

September 18, 20233 Mins Read
Climate Measurement

UCAR renews agreement to continue managing NCAR

September 18, 20232 Mins Read
Latest News

Major methane leak in the UK detected using satellites

September 22, 2023

NCAS trials use of biofuel to power storm-tracking weather radar

September 22, 2023

VIDEO: Climate change undermines nearly all sustainable development goals

September 21, 2023

Receive breaking stories and features in your inbox each week, for free


Enter your email address:


Supplier Spotlights
  • EKO Instruments Europe B.V.
Getting in Touch
  • Contact Us / Advertise
  • Meet the Editors
  • Download Media Pack
  • Free Weekly E-Newsletter
Our Social Channels
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
© 2023 UKi Media & Events a division of UKIP Media & Events Ltd
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Notice and Takedown Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Functional

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Performance

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Others

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by