This dissertation has been 65-5632 microfilmed exactly as received EICHENLAUB, Val Louis, 1933- A SYNOPTIC CLIMATOLOGY OF WINTER SNOWFALL OVER THE UPPER AND LOWER PENINSULAS OF MICHIGAN. The Ohio State University, Ph. D ., 1964 Geography University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan Copyright by Val Louis Eichenlaub 1965 A SYNOPTIC CLIMATOLOGY OF WINTER SNOWFALL OVER THE UPPER AND LOWER PENINSULAS OF MICHIGAN DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Val Louis Eiehenlaub, B.A., A.M. ****** The Ohio State University 1964 Approved by Adviser Department of Geography ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My interest in the persistent snow showers occurring along the lee shores of the Great Lakes dates from grade school days in south­ western Michigan. The recurring sequence of brilliant sunshine alternating with periods of blinding snow borne by frigid northwest winds was a part of our daily lives and became embedded in our con­ cept of Michigan winter weather. This dissertation has grown out of a desire to learn more about both the mechanics of the storms, and the climatic effects of these lake snowfalls. Over the years, many persons have contributed, directly and indirectly, to the completion of the study. Professor Guy-Harold Smith, of The Ohio State University, ably guided the work on the dissertation, and to him I am greatly indebted for much helpful aid and advice. In this final year of his service in the University, I am pleased that he has been able to serve as my mentor and see my research on snowfall in the Great Lakes area result in an acceptable dissertation. I am most grateful for the assistance provided by the staffs of the libraries of The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan; for the cooperation of Mr. A. H. Eichmeier and his staff at the East Lansing Office of the United States Weather Bureau in pro­ viding unpublished data; and for the invaluable assistance of Mr. Jack R. Meagher and Mr. Robert E. Maurer of the Computer Center, Western Michigan University. A special note of recognition is extended to Mr. Gerald Barger, National Weather Records Center, Asheville, North Carolina, for his aid and direction in data procurement; to Mr. L. T. Pierce, State Climatologist of Ohio, and to Mr. Howard Kenney of the Columbus Office, United States Weather Bureau, for their advice and counsel during the formative stages of the study; and to Professor Eugene C. Kirchherr, Western Michigan University, for his many helpful suggestions and criticisms during the final drafting of the numerous maps. My appreciation of the constant encouragement and inspiration provided by my colleagues in the Department of Geography and Geology at Western Michigan University, and by the staff members of the De­ partment of Geography, The Ohio State University, cannot be adequately conveyed. Most of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my mother, Mrs. W. V. Eichenlaub, who gave freely and willingly of her time in typing the first and final drafts, and to my wife, Barbara Ann, who assisted in innumerable ways, and whose encouragement and patience at all stages of research and writing has been enduring. VITA February 15; 1933 Born - Battle Creek, Michigan 1 9 5 5 .......... B. A.; Western Michigan University 1957 .......... M. A.; University of Michigan 1958 .......... Instructor, Western Michigan University 1959 .......... Graduate Assistant, The Ohio State University 1962-1963 • • • Instructor, Western Michigan University 196^ .......... Assistant Professor, Western Michigan University FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Geography Studies in Physical Geography. Professors Guy-Harold Smith and Sidney White Studies in Cultural Geography. Professor John R. Randall Studies in Economic Geography. Professors Henry L. Hunker and Alfred J. Wright CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii VITA ILLUSTRATIONS vii TABLES x Chapter I. INTRODUCTION AND ORIENTATION 1 Mesoscale Meteorological Influences on the Snowfall of the Great Lakes Area Definition of Lake-Effect Snowfall Purpose of the Study Organization of Material Basic Methodology Sources and Utilization of Data II. THE SCOPE OF PREVIOUS S T U D I E S .................... 21 Localized Snowfall in Areas Other than the Great Lakes Review of Literature on the Snowfall of the Great Lakes Region H I . THE GENERAL CONTROLS OF WINTER CLIMATE ...... 39 Introduction Effect of the General Circulation Secondary Climatic Controls - Effects of the Great Lakes IV. THE WINTER WEATHER TYPES 71 Method of Analysis The Weather Types Cyclonic Types Westerly Flow Types Anticyclonic Types Synoptic Type Frequencies Sequence Prohahilities v V. THE CLIMATOLOGY OF WINTER S N O W F A L L ............. 113 The Effect of Lake Proximity When Viewed Within Static Parameters The Effect of Lake Proximity When Viewed Within Synoptic Parameters VI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ...................... 171 APPENDIXES .................................... 183 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................... 193 vi ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1. Height Differences of Mean Monthly 500 Mb. Surface . k6 2. Frequencies of Anticyclones and Cyclones by Grid Subdivisions................................ 53 3. Mean Great Lakes SurfaceTemperatures ............... 60 Relief of Michigan ................................ 68 5. NW SynopticType ................................... 83 6 . NWs Synoptic T y p e .................................. 83 7- W Synoptic T y p e .................................... 86 8 . Ws SynopticTy p e ..................................... 86 9 . SW Synoptic Ty p e ..................................... 88 10. SWs Synoptic T y p e .................................. 88 11. G Synoptic T y p e .................................... 89 12. T Synoptic T y p e .................................... 89 1 3 . HB SynopticTy p e ..................................... 91 14. WFm Synoptic T y p e .......................... 91 15. WF SynopticType ................................... 93 16 . WFc Synoptic T y p e .................................. 93 17. WFCm Synoptic T y p e .................................. 9^+ 18. CA Synoptic Type ................................... 9^ 19. WA Synoptic Type ................................... 9& 20. NA Synoptic Type ................................... 9& 21. SA SynopticType ................................... 97 22. R Synoptic T y p e ....... .. ......................... 97 23 . Mean Annual Snowfall................................ 115 2k. Great Lakes Snowhelts ............................... 115 vii 25 . November S n o w f a l l .................................. 121 26. December S n o w f a l l .................................. 121 2 7 . January Snowfall ......... 123 28. February S n o w f a l l .................................. 123 2 9 . Percentage Increase, January Snowfall over February Snowfall ................................ 125 30. March Snowfall ............................... 125 31. Number of Heavy Snows ..... .................... 128 32. Mean Seasonal Snowfall Occurring as Heavy Snow .... 128 33* Functional Relations, Heavy and Mbderate Snowfall vs . Total Snowfall ...................... 130 34. Percent of Mean Seasonal Snowfall Occurring as Heavy S n o w .................................... 131 35- Moving Ten Year Averages............................ 137 36. Bar Graphs for Selected Stations ..... ......... 143 37* Probability of Snowfall, W F m ........................ 147 38. Probability of Heavy Snowfall, W F m .................. 147 39* Probability of Moderate Snowfall, W F m .............. 148 40. Probability of Snowfall, W F C m ...................... 148 41. Probability of Snowfall, N W ........................ 150 42. Probability of Snowfall, N W s ........................ 150 43- Distribution of Snowfall, S W s ...................... 153 44. Percent of Mean Seasonal Snowfall, S W s .............. 153 45. Percent of Total Number of Heavy Snows, S W s ........ 155 46. Percent of Mean Seasonal Snowfall, W s .............. 155 47- Mean Seasonal Snowfall, NW ........................ 158 48. Percent of Mean Seasonal Snowfall, N W .............. 158 49 . Mean Seasonal Snowfall, All Cyclonic Types ........ 160 viii 50. Percent of Mean Seasonal Snowfall, All Cyclonic Types .................................. 160 51. Distribution of Snowfall, W F m ...................... 162 52. Mean Seasonal Snowfall, WFm ...................... 162 53* Percent of Mean Seasonal Snowfall, W F m ............ 165 54. Number of Heavy Snows, W F m ........................ 165 56. Percent of Total Number of Heavy Snows Resulting from W F m .............................. 165 57- Percent of Total Number of Heavy Snows Resulting from WFm and S W s ...................... 168 5 8 . Mean Seasonal Snowfall, Westerly Flow T y p e s ........ 168 59• Percent of Ms an Seasonal Snowfall, Westerly Flow Types .............................. 170 6 0 . Location of S t a t i o n s .............................. 187 ix TABLES Table Page 1. Trough Features ...................................... 43 2. Location of Trough F e a t u r e s .......................... 1*3 3* Percent of Time That Troughs or Ridges Were Located Within Ten Degree Longitude Intervals of Latitudes Within the Great L a k e s .............................................. 45 4. Mean Heights of 500 Mb Surfaces along Eighty-Fifth Meridian .............................. 47 5- Location and Speed of Average Maximum Westerly Wind Component - 500 Mb Surface............ 4-7