Climate

Photo Friday: Cold produces sundog above Lake Superior

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By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes Echo This image taken over Lake Superior’s southern shore shows a reflection of light known as a “sundog” on the outer edges of a halo surrounding the sun. Fog is created when cold air moves over water that is much warmer. Because of the cold, this fog often contains tiny ice crystals. The crystals can act as prisms, creating a 22-degree circle of light around the sun known as a “22-degree halo,” according to Earth Science Picture of the Day, which published this image. The picture was taken by Shawn Malone on Jan.

Climate

Models help Detroit plan for climate change

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Determining the impacts of climate change is difficult.

There are hundreds of factors that determine how communities are influenced.

To understand the challenges associated with climate change, scientists use system dynamics models.

Climate

Perfect conditions produce “snow rollers” in Ohio, New York

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By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes Echo Everyone has seen images of tumbleweed blowing in the wind. This image shows what it looks like when the wind rolls its own snowballs. These snowballs were created by the wind in a field in Ohio, according to Earth Science Picture of the Day, a service provided by NASA’s Earth Science Division that documents naturally occurring phenomenon that highlight the different processes of the world. If the wind blows strong enough, and snow has just the right packing consistency, then the wind can blow snowballs like these ones, known as “snow rollers.” If the wind changes path, so can the snowballs, leaving tracks in the snow behind. This phenomenon is not unique to Newcomerstown, Ohio, where this photo was taken in late January by Bill Schultz.

Climate

Emergency officials brace for floods from snow, warmth

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State and local officials in Michigan are bracing for spring floods after record-breaking snowfalls in some areas.

And the risks are high, with a 50 percent to 90 percent chance of flooding predicted statewide this year.

Climate

Photo Friday: Ice forms Lake Michigan stringers

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By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes Echo Ice stringers, the lines of ice that can be seen traveling out across these Lake Michigan waters, are formed when strong winds blow ice off a point of land and into a long, connected string. This photograph produced by astronauts on the International Space Station shows Washington Island off the point of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula and two smaller adjacent islands. They are joined by ice. When this photo was taken on Feb. 22, strong southwesterly winds blew against their ice-covered shores, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.

Climate

Flash Point: Laura Miller shoots Maumee River ice

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We asked Great Lakes photographers to send us some of their favorite or toughest Great Lakes shots. Photographer and artist Laura Miller sent us these photos. Late January 2014 has been particularly difficult along the Maumee River in Ohio because of the amount of snow and rain we received with near-record precipitation.  These photos of an ice jam reflect the challenge of the river environment with the next challenge being flooding in the spring. Although this part of the river had an ice jam, farther upstream the water was flowing freely as the ice had been swept away.  The Maumee River is the largest Great Lakes watershed and feeds into Lake Erie.  There is a wonderful park system that follows the river providing abundant opportunities to enjoy the river.  Getting to the river isn’t the easiest during the winter months. The most difficult aspect of this photo adventure was knowing where the river bank ended and the river began.  You can’t help but respect the power and beauty of the ice when you’re actually on the banks of the river.   As you get closer to the water’s edge, you can easily go through the ice not knowing there is water flowing underneath.