Lake Superior Changes

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/08/03...ref=mpstoryview

Do you guys think this means climate change?

[pman]

No, I think it means it's been warmer and drier the last few years around Lake Superior.

That doesn't automatically mean it's global warming. It's also not as severe as it makes it out to be. It hasn't even made the local news much (which would love to blow up a story like this) and most people actually have enjoyed a little warmer water in Lake Superior, which is usually freezing cold, and haven't noticed an extreme drop in lake level.

[drwilkow]

It might mean climate change or it might be El Nino. The CNN article mentioned the lower rainfall amounts in the Lake Superior watershed may be a contributing factor to the lower lake levels.

The higher lake temps could be due to lower lake levels but I don't recall exactly where they said they took the temp readings which reported 75 F lake water temps. Obviously, in shallow water the lake temp will be higher than in deeper water.

[pman]

Yea, the 75F I'm sure is near a bay or inlet around Duluth, and all the lake levels across the state of MN have gone down, so it's not surprising Lake Superior is lower too.