Why is Lake Michigan water so cold?
Why is Lake Michigan water so cold? A north-northeast wind has pushed the warmer surface water along the Michigan shore back toward the middle of Lake Michigan and brought up colder water from well beneath the surface. This process is called upwelling.
Is Lake Michigan basically an ocean?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, for example, describes them as “vast inland freshwater seas.” A seminal 2017 paper in Limnology and Oceanography, authored by some of the most influential researchers studying the lakes, also refers to them as 'inland seas.
Is it possible to swim in Lake Michigan?
However, dangerous currents may exist at any time near piers, breakwalls, and river outlets. Always use caution and never swim alone. A Moderate Swim Risk implies that breaking waves and currents are expected at the beach. Stay away from dangerous areas like piers, breakwalls, and river outlets at these times.
Why is Lake Michigan so cold in the summer?
Lower Michigan is surrounded by water on the north, east and west. Any wind from those directions will blow air over the water and then over Lower Michigan. The cold water will cool the air and keep us in a chill. It's a nice cooling effect on a hot summer day, but it's a frigid effect in April and May.
Is Lake Michigan man made?
The lake's formation began 1.2 billion years ago when two tectonic plates moving in opposite directions left a giant scar—an event now known as the Midcontinent Rift. Less than 15,000 years ago, melting glaciers filled the giant basin, and Lake Michigan came to be. The lake's maximum depth is 925 feet.
How long does it take for Lake Michigan to warm up?
For example, Lake Michigan takes most of the summer to heat up and reaches its warmest point by late summer or early fall. Then, as we head into winter, the lake retains much of the heat that it gained during the summer.
Why is Lake Michigan so famous?
Lake Michigan has the longest stretch from north to south of all the Great Lakes, giving it a very diverse climate, which allows for a wide variety of plant and animal species. The lake boasts a variety of natural habitats, including tallgrass prairies, wide savannas, and the world's largest freshwater sand dunes.
Why is Lake Michigan so blue?
The blue in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is sediment brought to the surface when strong winds churned the lakes. The green in Lake Erie and in Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay is algae, which builds on the surface when winds are calm.
Do people swim in Lake Michigan in the winter?
Those who brave the frigid feat and swim in the winter are nicknamed “ice monsters.” Lake Michigan continuously cools throughout winter, and with March averaging an annual low of 32.9 degrees, it's the chilliest month for open-water swimming.
Does Lake Michigan ever warm up?
Lake Surface Temperature Surface temperatures of Lake Michigan follow a monthly pattern with the warmest temperatures occurring in late summer and early fall and the coolest temperatures occurring in late winter and early spring (Figure 17).
Which Great Lake is the deepest?
Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake by area (31,700 mi2 /82,100 km2). It is also the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 406 meters (1,332 feet). By most measures, it is the healthiest of all the Great Lakes.
Which Great Lakes is the warmest to swim in?
Erie is the most southerly, shallow, and biologically diverse of all of the Great Lakes. Its shallow depth makes it the warmest Great Lake and a favourite destination for summer recreationists and migrating birds.
Which is the cleanest Great Lake?
Lake Superior is the Cleanest and Clearest Great Lake Because of its somewhat isolated location and long cold winters, not much farming is done along Superior's shores. This means lower amounts of nutrients, sediments, and organic material are floating around the lake.
Which Great lake can you not swim in?
Lake Michigan in particular is the roughest of the Great Lakes, and poses a major risk to those thinking of taking a dip.