Lake Superior’s Total Water Volume
Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake and is also the largest of the five Great Lakes. It covers an area of approximately 82,410 square kilometres and has an average depth of 147 metres. Its massive size means it holds a tremendous amount of water, estimated to be 3,000 cubic kilometres. In terms of the total volume of water, it contains enough water to cover the entire landmass of the United States and Mexico in approximately 8 to 10 centimeters of water. To put this into perspective, the amount of water in Lake Superior is enough to fill all the other four Great Lakes, plus three more Lake Erie-sized lakes. It’s also large enough to hold all the rivers in the United States, or all the world’s oceans and seas. To determine how many gallons of water are in Lake Superior, we need to convert the cubic kilometres of water into gallons.
Converting Cubic Kilometres to Gallons
The formula for converting cubic kilometers to gallons is 1 cubic kilometer = 1,000,000,000,000 gallons. Using this formula, we can calculate that Lake Superior contains approximately 3 trillion gallons of water. To put this tremendous amount of water into perspective, Americans use an average of 166 gallons of water per day. If everyone in the United States used this much water each day, it would take nearly 18 million years to exhaust the water in Lake Superior – clearly, the lake’s water supplies are vast.
The Great Lakes Compact
Since Lake Superior is so vast, and its water resource so precious, it is subject to The Great Lakes Compact, a legally binding agreement among the eight U.S. states that border the Great Lakes and two Canadian provinces. Established in 2008, the Compact serves to protect, conserve, and manage the water resources and ecosystems of the Great Lakes basin. It also ensures that each state is responsible for conserving, maintaining, and protecting the water resources within its boundaries. In addition, the Compact also provides guidance on how to allocate and divert the water resources of the Great Lakes, as well as how to manage hydropower and other related activities.
The Impact of Climate Change on Lake Superior
The effects of climate change have the potential to greatly affect Lake Superior’s abundant water resources. The lake is already suffering due to increasing temperatures, and changes in precipitation patterns. Warmer air temperatures increase evaporation, resulting in lower lake levels and reduced water quality. Additionally, since precipitation patterns are already changing, it can create greater fluctuations in lake levels and cause water inflow from tributaries, rivers and streams to be more unpredictable. The combination of these changes can affect biodiversity and the overall health of the lake’s aquatic life.
Protecting Lake Superior’s Water Resources
Due to the importance of Lake Superior, it is imperative to protect the lake’s water resources from further degradation. This involves a variety of different initiatives and programs, ranging from reducing plastic and chemical pollution, to the use of green infrastructure practices, to educating citizens on ways to save water. Additionally, governments, organizations and citizens must be aware of initiatives that could hurt the lake, such as diverting water or building dams across tributaries. Such activities can significantly disrupt the natural flow of the lake’s water resources and cause long-term damage.
The Economic Value of Lake Superior
Lake Superior has enormous economic value to the eight states and two provinces that it borders. From tourism to the fishing and shipping industries, the economic impact of Lake Superior is estimated to be between $14 billion and $15 billion each year. Furthermore, the lake’s recreational activities add an additional $6 billion to local economies. Thus, Lake Superior has immense economic value, and its water resources must be both appreciated and protected.
Lake Superior as a Source of Drinking Water
In addition to the economic benefits of Lake Superior, the lake is also the source of drinking water for more than 15 million people. This includes cities such as St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Duluth. It is estimated that these cities use more than 1.7 million gallons of water from Lake Superior every day to supply their citizens with safe, clean drinking water. Without Lake Superior’s massive water resource, it would be much more difficult to supply these cities with the necessary amount of drinking water needed.
Governing Lake Superior’s Water Resources
The International Joint Commission (IJC) is responsible for governing the Great Lakes, including Lake Superior. The IJC was formed in 1909 and is a bi-national independent organization responsible for promoting cooperation and protecting the Great Lakes and their related resources. The IJC is continuously looking for ways to improve the management of Lake Superior’s water resources and keep them as healthy as possible – from preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species, to conserving water and encouraging sustainable practices.
The Impact of Human Activity on Lake Superior’s Water Resources
Humans can have a profound effect on Lake Superior’s water resources. Everyday activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, and camping can all impact the quality of the lake’s water. These activities can send pollutants like sewage and detergents into the lake, which can absorb sunlight and disrupt the delicate ecosystem. Additionally, large-scale projects such as building dams and diverting water can have long-term effects on the lake’s water levels. In order to protect Lake Superior’s water resources, it is important to understand and recognize the ways in which human activity can positively or negatively impact the lake.
The Long-Term Impact of Climate Change on Lake Superior’s Water Resources
As the effects of climate change become more significant, so too does their impact on Lake Superior’s water resources. Predicted climate change scenarios could have far-reaching and devastating effects on the lake’s water levels, ecosystem, and the economies of the surrounding states and provinces. Warmer temperatures can increase evaporation, resulting in reduced lake levels and lower water quality – which would put immense strain on local water supplies. Additionally, changes in precipitation patterns that result in higher lake levels due to already saturated catchment areas can lead to greater flooding risk. It is therefore vital to be aware of the potential impacts of climate change on Lake Superior, and to start actively taking steps to mitigate these changes before it is too late.
The Future of Lake Superior’s Water Resources
In order to ensure the future health of Lake Superior’s water resources, citizens, governments, and organizations must come together and take action. By investing in green infrastructure practices, promoting sustainable water usage, and educating the public on the importance of protecting the lake’s water resources, there is potential for Lake Superior to remain healthy and abundant for generations to come. Additionally, each state and province that shares a border with the lake needs to abide by the Great Lakes Compact, and do its part in protecting the lake’s water resources in order to ensure its long-term health.
