Biologists from Michigan Tech University have been studying the vulnerable wolf population on a secluded island in Lake Superior every winter since 1958. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, this year’s planned seven-week survey had to be ended after only two weeks.

The team studying the wolves uses a ski plane to land on the frozen lake since there are no suitable landing spots on the island. However, due to the unusually warm winter, the Great Lakes have significantly less ice this year.

As global warming speeds up, researchers are rushing to comprehend the potential impact of winters without ice on the world’s biggest freshwater system. Due to the dangerous conditions of the lakes during the coldest months, there is limited data on the actual impacts. Additionally, scientists have traditionally believed that there is minimal ecological activity under the ice. However, it is possible that these changes could have severe consequences on the environment, economy, and culture, such as harming certain types of fish, damaging beaches, triggering excessive algae growth, and impeding shipping routes.

Trista Vick-Majors, an assistant professor of biology at Michigan Tech who specializes in researching aquatic ecosystems, emphasized the importance of collecting additional data this year. She noted the unpredictability of how ecosystems will react to the current significant changes.

The European climate agency reported that January marked the eighth consecutive month of record high temperatures on the planet. The upper Midwest region, including Chicago, also saw unseasonably warm weather, with temperatures reaching 70 degrees (21 degrees Celsius) and Wisconsin experiencing its first February tornadoes.

“The size of the U.K. has historically been the peak time for ice coverage on the lakes, with 91% of the lakes being covered at times in mid-February. However, this year in mid-February, only 3% of the lakes were covered, the lowest recorded percentage since data collection began in 1973 according to the Great Lakes Ice Tracker website.”

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Researchers have limited information on the potential impacts of successive winters without ice on lakes, however, they have numerous hypotheses.

Lakes without ice may receive sunlight more efficiently and heat up earlier during springtime. This may result in earlier and more extensive growth of blue-green algae, which can be harmful to humans and impact summer tourism.

Ice absence could lead to rapid warming of top levels in lakes and result in thermal stratification, where distinct layers of colder and warmer water are formed. Decreased oxygen availability would hinder the survival of plankton and other aquatic organisms in the lower, denser levels, as hypothesized by some experts. Spring is when whitefish and lake trout are usually born and fed with plankton, so a decline in plankton may cause a decline in fish population, causing tighter fishing regulations and increased costs at food establishments.

Reduced ice levels may result in extended fishing periods, but severe winter storms could damage fishing equipment and harm whitefish eggs that depend on the ice for safety. Titus Seilheimer, a fisheries specialist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated this.

Charlie Henrikson runs a small commercial fishing operation off Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula. He said his boats have been setting nets in February when they typically don’t start the season until late March. He said he’s most concerned about the lack of ice leading to more evaporation, which would cause lake levels to drop and make it harder to get his boats into port.

At 71 years old, I naturally prefer warmer weather. One of the perks of living on the dock is being able to walk without worrying about icy conditions. The weather is constantly changing and becoming more extreme. This will require us to adjust our methods and find ways to utilize it to our advantage. Adaptability is crucial.

A decrease in ice cover may result in an extended period for shipping across lakes. However, the absence of ice could potentially cause more severe erosion of shorelines during winter storms. This could result in an increase in sediment being deposited into harbors, making navigation more difficult according to Eric Peace, vice president of the Lake Carriers Association. Additionally, lower lake levels caused by elevated evaporation rates could lead to a decrease in cargo capacity for ships and cause them to sit higher in the water.

This year’s lack of ice enabled Michigan Tech’s Vick-Majors to launch a project to gather winter-specific data that scientists can compare to summer data. Researchers from around the Great Lakes are participating in sampling this month.

Recently, Madeline Magee and Rae-Ann Eifert, who monitor lakes for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, collected buckets of lake water from a Racine breakwater despite the freezing weather. They did this as part of Vick-Majors’ project.

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“Continuing to gather data in the future will help us gain a better understanding of the Great Lakes and potentially improve our management practices. However, if we lose ice coverage, it could significantly alter the Great Lakes’ ecosystem in ways that are not yet fully comprehended.”

Source: wral.com