Why is Lake Erie Gray?
As agricultural runoff and urban wastewater pour into Lake Erie, the nutrients and warmth of the shallowest Great Lake give rise to massive blooms of algae and bacteria. Each summer, when legions of algae and bacteria die, they precipitously fall to the lake bottom, and their microscopic corpses rot en masse.
Why are the Great Lakes so cloudy?
Called cloud streets, these clouds occur when frigid, dry air blows across the lake, where it picks up water vapor from the warmer lake. The water vapor freezes into ice crystals, and clouds form. The clouds take the shape of the wind as it gusts over the water.
Why is the water so blue in Lake Michigan?
Light that hits the surface of the lake from straight above penetrates more deeply, reflecting less. When the lake is deep, and the angle of incoming light is smaller, Lake Michigan’s color appears deep blue. This is because the light travels down with little obstructions and dissipates far below the surface.
Do they dye Lake Michigan blue?
Over the last two decades, their research found Lake Michigan has actually transformed in color from green to blue as invasive mussel species have caused a massive decrease in the amount of algae in its waters. Since there’s less algae, the water is less green.
When the Great Lakes freeze over what happens to lake effect snow?
As the cold air passes over the unfrozen and relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, warmth and moisture are transferred into the lowest portion of the atmosphere. The air rises, clouds form and grow into narrow band that produces 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour or more.
Do lakes cause rain?
The mechanism that produces the localized areas of rainfall is essentially the same as lake-effect snow. Cold air moves across the relatively warmer waters of the lakes and that creates a steep drop in temperature from the lake surface through the first several thousand feet in the atmosphere.
How clean is Lake Michigan water?
Generally the water is clean and safe for swimming. However, to ensure public safety, the national lakeshore regularly tests the water for contamination by bacteria. If problems are found, signs advising the public are posted at affected beaches.
Why is Lake Superior blue?
“One hundred kilometers of shoreline turned opaque green. It was quite extraordinary.” As the deepest and most northern of the Great Lakes, Superior was once thought immune to algal blooms. It was considered largely devoid of algae-promoting nutrient runoff from surrounding land.