Lake Michigan's Rising Temperature a Troubling Climate Change Sign

Lake Michigan is the second largest of North America's Great Lakes but a recent temperature study shows a disturbing rise in temperature, even at its farthest depths.

The study, conducted by the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, compiled data measured from a thermistor setup they deployed since 1990. Throughout that time, they observed that even the coldest depths of Lake Michigan (some as far down as 110 meters) were seeing an increase of 0.6 degrees Celsius every decade.

This implies that in 50 years, the deepest parts of the lake would have gone up by 3 degrees Celsius and it could spell trouble for much of its marine biodiversity.

Climate change piles on to Great Lake woes

The rising temperature only adds to the list of Lake Michigan's many environmental concerns. Pesticide use, livestock farming and other sources of pollution have already threatened both the local wildlife and the health of residents.

Out of the five lakes, Michigan is the third most badly affected by manmade activity (with the top two being Lake Erie and Lake Ontario).

Below are just some of the problematic trends experienced in the area during last couple of decades:

• Warmer winters - The increase in the lake's temperature was consistent even during the winter months, leading climate scientists to suspect that this phenomenon reached all the way up into the atmosphere.

• Compromised food web - The warming winter could negatively impact the cycle of algae growth, which are more or less the backbone of a healthy fish population. The impact of climate change has dramatically altered some northern parts of Lake Michigan's algae populations and foreshadow poor catches in spring.

• Unusual soil conditions - Warm or short winters also came hand in hand with heavy rainfall that have created a lot of problems for farmers during planting season. These, in turn, created delays that disrupted many local supply chains.

Citizens of Great Lakes take action

Fortunately, things are not entirely too late. Both the local government as well as local environmental advocacy groups have been doing what they can to preserve Lake Michigan's ecosystems. Some of the trends they started include:

• Removing invasive species - Aquatic pests and other invasive species also threaten the lake's sensitive biodiversity. Hence, some local fishermen volunteer to catch these in order to reduce their populations.

• Changing industries - The local steel industry has contributed considerably to the area's carbon footprint. But in recent years, manufacturing has declined and factories are shutting down. This has led to some business owners reconsider more sustainable enterprises based on maintaining the health of the local ecosystem.

• Preserving more areas - Some local communities are also starting funds to purchase more undeveloped lands for preservation. This will at least give the currently existing ecosystem a fighting chance to hold back the effects of climate change.

The rising temperatures in both the depths of the Great Lakes and other cold parts of the world have been a cause for alarm by many climate scientists in the last 30 years. But with nations around the world stepping up all they can to reduce their carbon footprint and combat the threat of climate change, it is their hope that they may see a reversal before it is too late.

Also read: Nearly 22 Million Pounds of Plastic Pollution Enter the Great Lakes Every Year