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Law, Love and Chocolate
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Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
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Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
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Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
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Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
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OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
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Do IT this week: Layering
Scientists attribute end of decade-long slump to wetter, colder weather
Published on Sunday, Jul 19, 2009
Associated Press
LUDINGTON, MICH.: Great Lakes water levels are rebounding after a decade-long slump that hammered the maritime industry and even fed conspiracy theories about plots to drain the inland seas that make up nearly one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water.
The three biggest lakes — Superior, Huron and Michigan — have risen steadily since fall 2007, when, for a couple of months, Superior's levels were the lowest on record and the others nearly so. Erie, shallowest of the lakes, actually exceeded its long-term average in June. So did Lake Ontario, although its level is determined more by artificial structures than nature.
The lakes follow cycles, rising and falling over time. Scientists say it's a natural process with environmental benefits, such as replenishing coastal wetlands. But extreme ups or downs can wreak havoc for people.
During the mid-1980s, levels got so high that houses, businesses and even sections of roads were swept away along Lake Michigan's southeastern shoreline.
Then a sudden, deep drop-off began in the late 1990s. Cargo ships were forced to substantially lighten their loads. Marina operators were unable to lease slips. Dredging to deepen boat passageways released pollutants that had been buried for years under layers of sediment.
While some waterfront property owners rejoiced over wider beaches, others griped as vegetation — sometimes unsightly and smelly — sprang up.
Scientists attribute the rebound primarily to wetter, colder weather the past couple of years. But if grim computer modeling proves accurate, global warming will cause the lakes to recede up to 3 feet this century.
''Climate projections say the lakes will go up and down around a decreasing average,'' said Don Scavia, director of the University of Michigan's Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute. ''The lows will be lower than in the past and the highs will be lower than in the past.''
Get the full article here.
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