In last week's Cast Your Vote, most of you indicated that you would like to learn more about the effects of global climate change on the Great Lakes. The timing of your choice couldnít have been more perfect. As I write this, the usual sound of waves crashing on shore is accompanied by the drone of a power plant near Ontonagon, Michigan.
We encountered lots of industry as we paddled along the canal on our way through the Keweenaw Peninsula, Including this giant lift bridge, which can be lifted over 100 feet in the air to allow large ships to pass through the canal.
The earth's climate has gone through many cycles of cooling and warming over time. We know this by looking at geologic and fossil records in different layers of rocks. Each of these cycles has lasted about 100,000 years. Average temperatures have shifted by about 9 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) as the earth went through ice ages and periods like the one we're in now, called interglacial periods.
So if this change is normal, why are people making such a fuss about global climate change? Human activities are causing a different scale of climate change - more extreme than the natural cycles that the earth's climate has gone through for at least a million years. We may be causing the earth's climate to change faster than it has in the past.
We have seen a lot of commercial fishing boats, but none with such a cool paint job. What effect do you think global warming will have on the fish populations in the Great Lakes?
We are causing this more rapid change by adding "greenhouse gases" into the earth's atmosphere. These gases trap heat, like glass does in a greenhouse. Scientists think that greenhouse gases are making the earth warmer than it would normally be. Carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas, is produced by cars, trucks and other machines using fosil fuels like gasoline. Carbon dioxide is also produced when forests are cut down or burned.
Now that you know about global climate change, I bet you're wondering what it has to do with the Great Lakes. The water temperatures of the Great Lakes could rise if the air temperatures increases. If the air temperature rises, the Great Lakes won't spend as much time covered with ice. Warmer water temperatures could harm water quality by decreasing oxygen in the water and increasing the growth of algae. The warmer waters would also decrease habitat for cold water-loving fish, like lake trout and whitefish. Several other kinds of trout and salmon would also experience habitat losses. I wonder how this would affect the commercial and sport fishing in Lake Superior?
When we met with the 4th graders at Houghton Elementary School they told us that they liked to go skiing and snowboarding this ski hill, which is located about a mile from their school. Each winter this area gets lots of snow. What impact might global climate change have on the skiing in the future?
A warmer climate would cause increased evapotranspiration (water lost to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration). With all of this water lost to the atmosphere, streams and rivers would not flow as fast, causing reduced water quality. The flow of freshwater into the Great Lakes could decrease by 20 percent with a warming of 4 degrees F. A decrease like this could result in a reduction of lake levels by a foot or more.
You may have heard that global warming will cause the polar ice caps to melt, resulting in the oceans rising. The opposite would be the case for the Great Lakes. It is predicted that Great Lake levels may decrease from 2-5 or more feet as climate change worsens. Lower lake levels would reduce inputs to hydroelectric power facilities, increase the concentration of water pollutants, and require more dredging to maintain ship channels.
Tonight the view from our tent is a little different. We have a view of the lake, and the power plant in Ontonagon, Michigan.
Those are just a few of the changes that are possible in the Great Lakes region if global climate change continues at its present rate. With all those changes, just think about the effect on the plants and animals of the region.
The following is a list of things you can do to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, so you can do your part to slow global climate change. This list as well as information in this Notes From the Trail came from an article (provided by Gregg Bruff of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore) called Climate Change: What Does the Future Hold for Great Lakes National Parks.
- Walk, ride a bus or train, carpool with friends, or ride a bike whenever possible.
- When it is time to replace the family car, consider one that gets more miles per gallon than your present vehicle.
- Convert light bulbs in your house to compact fluorescent bulbs. Turn off lights you are not using them.
- Buy products that feature reusable, recyclable, or reduced packaging. This saves the energy needed to make new containers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.
- Educate others. Let friends and family know about these easy, energy-saving steps they can take to save money while protecting the environment.
- Encourage scientific research and public discussion on global warming and solutions such as energy efficiency and alternative energy. like solar power, wind power.
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