EXPERTS ADVISORY

ANN ARBOR—Great Lakes ice cover increased to 91 percent Tuesday, creeping closer to the record of 94.7 percent set in 1979, according to the federal government’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan has several researchers who can discuss the near-record ice cover and its implications.

Frank Marsik, associate research scientist in atmospheric science, can discuss how the ice might affect weather later this year in Michigan. Contact: (734) 763-5369 or marsik@umich.edu.

Derek Posselt, assistant professor of atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences, can address how ice cover affects lake-effect snow and rain in the Great Lakes region. His recent research shows that the location of the ice, and not just its thickness, plays a role in determining precipitation levels. Contact: (734) 936-0502 or dposselt@umich.edu.

Andrew Gronewold, adjunct professor of civil and environmental engineering at U-M and a hydrologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, can discuss the impact of ice and cold water in the Great Lakes, how water levels affect shipping and tourism and projects under way to obtain better measurements. Contact: (734) 763-6829 or drewgron@umich.edu. Watch a video interview:

Dave Schwab, research scientist at the U-M Water Center, says that while this winter has been different than other recent winters, the weather we’ve experienced falls within the normal range of short-term climate variability for the region. “This winter is unusual compared to other very recent winters, but it may not be so unusual in the long run,” he said. “We only have about 40 years of detailed ice statistics for the Great Lakes to work with, which is a fairly short record.” Contact: (734) 763-1093 or djschwab@umich.edu.

Dmitry Beletsky, an expert on the hydrodynamics of lakes, can address the impact of Great Lakes ice on lake circulation patterns, current speed and summer water temperatures. “Deep lakes like Superior and Michigan take longer to warm up after a winter with extensive ice cover, and water temperatures will likely remain cooler than normal throughout the year,” said Beletsky, associate research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research, a collaboration between U-M and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Contact: (734) 741-2360 or beletsky@umich.edu.