Author(s): Raisa Beletsky; Dmitry Beletsky; Nathan Hawley; Jia Wang
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Abstract: Winter circulation in the Laurentian Great Lakes is less known than summer circulation and impacts of ice on lake circulation are poorly understood. Lake Erie is at least partially covered with ice from December until April, and its normal peak ice cover is about 90%. To study thermal structure, circulation, and ice thickness, 7 current profilers, 4 ice profilers and 37temperature sensors were deployed in Lake Erie in October 2010-May 2011, and again in September 2011-May 2012. Wind speed observations were obtained from National Weather Service and Environment Canada meteorological stations. Significant interannual variability in the extent of ice cover was observed during the two field years, and that allowed us to study the impact of ice on thermal structure and circulation in Lake Erie.
Year: 2014