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Great Lakes Ice Cover, Winter 1969-70

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Great Lakes Ice Cover, Winter 1969-70 NOAA TM NOS LSC D 3 A UNIT DEPAR COM OAA Technical Memorandum NOS LSC D 3 t . S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE r ational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration f i ational Ocean Survey Great Lakes Ice Cover Winter 1969-1970 ANO~*EA$fH SCIENCES LIBRARY 0013 1973 Lake Survey Center M.O.A.A. U. S. Dept, of Commerce DETROIT, MICH. March 1972 f LSC Technical Memoranda Great Lakes Ice Cover Winter 1969-70. Donald R. Rondy, October 1971. Lake Survey Center 1972 Research Program January 1972. c-e l7 , U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE mV70 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Survey NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS LSC D 3 GREAT LAKES ICE COVER WINTER 1969-70 Donald R. Rondy f Lake Survey Center Limnology Division Federal Building Detroit, Michigan March 1972 73 5621 CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES AND PLATES iii ABSTRACT 1 INTRODUCTION 2 DATA COLLECTION 2 Aerial Observations 2 Shore Observations 3 Freezing Degree-days 3 WINTER CHARACTERISTICS 4 DATA PRESENTATION 5 Ice Charts 5 Ice Summary Charts 5 DISCUSSION 5 Lake Superior 5 Lake Michigan 7 Lake Huron 9 Lake St. Clair 10 Lake Erie 11 Lake Ontario 13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 13 ii LIST OF TABLES AND PLATES TABLES 1 Key to Ice Chart Symbols Plates 1 Accumulated Freezing Degree-days—Lake Superior 2 Accumulated Freezing Degree-days—Lake Michigan 3 Accumulated Freezing Degree-days—Lake Huron 4 Accumulated Freezing Degree-days—Lake Erie 5 Accumulated Freezing Degree-days—Lake Ontario 6 Maximum Ice Cover-Southern Lakes 7 Maximum Ice Cover-Northern Lakes 8-12 Ice Charts—Lake Superior 13-19 Ice Charts—Whitefish Bay 20-24 Ice Charts—St. Marys River 25-29 Ice Charts—Straits of Mackinac 30-31 Ice Charts—Lake Michigan 32-33 Ice Charts—Lake Huron 34-37 Ice Charts—Lake St. Clair 38-40 Ice Charts—Lake Erie iii GREAT LAKES ICE COVER - WINTER 1969-70 by DONALD R. RONDY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Survey Lake Survey Center Detroit, Michigan ABSTRACT Thirty-three ice charts were produced from data obtained on 14 visual aerial reconnaissance flights made during the 1969-70 ice season. Winter temperatures were classified as below normal and were determined from freezing degree-day accumulations. Reported dates of first ice varied from November 3, 1969, on southern Lake Huron to December 23, 1969, on eastern Lake Ontario. The period of maximum ice cover varied across the Great Lakes, as did the areal extent of the ice cover. During the periods of maximum ice extent, Lake Superior was estimated to be 85 percent covered, with a particularly heavy concentration of winter ice in the southeastern portion; Lake Michigan 30 percent covered, with heavy winter ice confined to the northern end of the lake, and various concentrations of drift ice along the lake perimeter; Lake Huron 50 per­ cent covered with differing concentrations around the lake except for the central basin; Lake Erie 95 percent covered with most of the winter ice containing a drifted snow cover; and Lake Ontario 15 percent covered with the major concentrations located in the approaches to the St. Lawrence River. The reported dates of last ice ranged from March 31 at Tibbetts Point on eastern Lake Ontario to April 27 at Point Iroquois on eastern Lake Superior. 1 INTRODUCTION Ice cover data have been acquired since February 1963, as a part of an overall program to obtain information on the physical phenomena of the Great Lakes. These data are presented in the form of ice charts covering individual lakes and selected areas. The freezing degree-day concept of classifying the winter severity was used as an aid in scheduling the initial reconnaissance flights. U. S. Coast Guard ice messages and ice reports from the Lake Survey Center water level gage observers were used as flight planning aids later in the season. This report presents data collected during the 1969-70 aerial ice reconnaissance program, and summarizes the winter ice and weather conditions. Ice cover reports have been prepared for each ice season since the winter of 1962-63 and are available from Lake Survey Center. DATA COLLECTION Aerial Observations The ice cover characteristics were mapped from aircraft flying at altitudes ranging up to 9,000 feet (2740 m). Limits of the areal distribution of the various ice concentrations were plotted on work sheets, while detailed descriptions were recorded on magnetic tape. The taped information was useful in later compilation of the ice charts. Flights began on February 17, 1970, and continued at weekly intervals through March 31, 1970. Approximately 6200 miles (9500 km) and 40 hours of flight time were logged. Two supplementary heli­ copter flights were made, originating at the Coast Guard Air Station, Selfridge Air Force Base. In addition to the Lake Survey flights four operational flights were made by the U. S. Coast Guard from the air station at Traverse City, Michigan. The dates of the reconnaissance flights and the areas covered are listed below: ICE RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS - WINTER 1969-70 FLIGHT NO. DATE AREA 1 February 17 St. Clair, Erie 2 February 25 Straits of Mackinac, Whitefish Bay St. Marys River 3 March 5 St. Clair, Erie 4 March 10 Michigan 2 flight no. DATE AREA 5 March 11 Huron, St. Clair 6 March 17 Superior, St. Marys River 7 March 24 Superior, Straits of Mackinac, St. Marys River 8 March 31 St. Marys River Supplementary helicopter flights: February 24 Erie March 17 St. Clair, southern Huron Coast Guard operational flights: February 6 St. Marys River, Straits of Mackinac, Whitefish Bay April 1 Superior April 3 Superior, northern Michigan April 10 Superior Shore Observations Forty-one water level gage observers reported ice conditions daily throughout the winter. The shore station information was primarily used to locate areas of first ice formation, to monitor conditions during the season, and to pinpoint areas where ice was retained the longest. Freezing Degree-days The accumulation of freezing degree-days is a useful index for estimating winter severity. A freezing degree-day is defined as a day having a mean temperature one degree below 32°F (0°C). For ex­ ample, a day having a mean temperature of 27°F (-3°C) would equal five freezing degree-days. Many limnological and meteorological factors effect ice formation and growth. However, certain relation­ ships have been established between freezing degree-days and ice cover distribution. Daily mean air temperatures from selected meteorological stations on the Great Lakes were used to determine the accumulations of freezing degree-days. The stations were Duluth, Minnesota; 3 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Alpena, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; and Rochester, New York. Graphs of the accumulated freezing degree-days versus time were plotted for each of the stations (Plates 1 through 5). The curve of the long term mean was superimposed on each of the graphs. This aided in determining relative winter severity, the approximate date of the maximum degree—day accumulation, and the approximate date of maximum ice cover. Freezing degree-days were tabulated for the period between November and April. Temperatures were obtained from the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin issued by the U. S. Department of Commerce, National Weather Service. Reconnaissance flight dates are also indicated on the graphs. WINTER CHARACTERISTICS Temperatures for the 1969-70 winter can be generally classified as below normal. This is indicated by the above average accumula­ tion of freezing degree-days for each of the stations. The accumulation during the last half of December was more rapid than normal and led to shipping problems because of early ice formation in the connecting channels. Temperatures in the Great Lakes area were generally near normal during the first two weeks of November. During the third week a strong cold front stretched across the mid-continent from north to south. It caused cold weather and below normal temperatures in the Great Lakes region for the remainder of November. Below normal temperatures persisted through December and were accompanied by other unusual weather. For example, Duluth, Minnesota, recorded 38.8 inches (98.6 cm) of snowfall for December, which was the second greatest in 99 years of record, while to the east, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, experienced 110.6 hours of sunshine, the sunniest December on record. On Lake Ontario to the south, Rochester, New York, had its heaviest monthly snowfall in 86 years (42 inches - 107 cm) and Syracuse, New York, recorded 52 inches 132 cm), the greatest in 67 years. Low temperatures, continued into January from December and set new records for duration of temperatures below the freezing mark. Houghton Lake, Michigan, had a total of 47 days with temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or below. New Arctic outbreaks during the third week of January brought temperatures 12° to 16°F below normal around the lake perimeter and as much as 22°F below normal at interior sites. The week ending January 25 found Duluth, recording temperatures 14°F below the normal of 9°F (-13°C); Cleveland, 16°F below the^ normal of 28°F (-2°C); and Flint, Michigan, in the interior, 22°F 4 below the normal of 22°F (-6°F). Temperatures for the month of February were generally below normal due to repeated outbreaks of Arctic air. The month was notable for its lack of precipitation. Alpena recorded only 0.27 inches (0.69 cm), the driest in 98 years, while to the west, Milwaukee accumulated only 0.13 inches (0.33 cm), the second driest since 1877. The monthly March temperatures across the basin varied from normal to slightly below normal.
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