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Reconstructing Great Lakes air temperature and ice dynamics data back to 1897
Katelyn King1, Ayumi Fujisaki-Manome2,3, Cory Brant4
1Institute for Fisheries Research, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. kingk42@michigan.gov.
Scientific Data
|January 22, 2026
Summary
Great Lakes ice cover data from 1897-1960 was reconstructed using weather station records. This historical data is crucial for understanding climate change impacts on the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science
- Climate science
- Ecology
Background:
- Great Lakes ice cover is vital for regional climate, recreation, and aquatic habitats.
- Climate warming is projected to decrease ice cover, impacting precipitation, recreation, and ecosystems.
- Historical ice data prior to 1973 is limited due to scarce satellite observations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconstruct historical Great Lakes ice cover data from 1897-1960.
- To provide a spatial understanding of ice duration and variability during this period.
- To improve climate change impact assessments and ecological studies.
Main Methods:
- Compiled daily air temperature data from weather stations around the Great Lakes (1897-2023).
- Calculated cumulative freezing and net melting degree-days.
- Developed raster layers to estimate historical ice duration and variability (1897-1960).
Main Results:
- Successfully reconstructed historical ice cover data for the Great Lakes from 1897 to 1960.
- Generated spatial estimates of ice duration and variability for the historical period.
- Provided a valuable dataset for understanding long-term ice cover trends.
Conclusions:
- The reconstructed historical ice data fills a critical gap in Great Lakes climate records.
- This data will enhance understanding of past aquatic species distribution and improve future ice cover predictions.
- The findings support research on climate change impacts on the Great Lakes ecosystem.
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