{"id":8760,"date":"2023-11-11T19:10:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T18:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lakebeyond.com\/?p=8760"},"modified":"2023-11-11T19:10:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-11T18:10:13","slug":"did-lake-superior-freeze-over-this-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakebeyond.com\/did-lake-superior-freeze-over-this-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Did Lake Superior Freeze Over This Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Overview of Lake Superior Freeze Over<\/h2>\n

Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, by area, and reaching depths of up to 400 meters. Since 2018 it has been known as “The Deepest Lake in the World”. During the winter months it is known to freeze over, with temperatures reaching below zero for long stretches of time. This past winter has been particularly cold across the entire Great Lakes region and has raised questions about the possibility of Lake Superior fully freezing over.<\/p>\n

Scientific Evidence<\/h2>\n

Scientific evidence shows that the surface area of the lake did freeze this past winter, however the depth of the lake did not. Data collected by researchers at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) reveal that this winter the fringes of Lake Superior reached below the freezing point of water on multiple occasions, with an ice coverage reported at up to 80% by mid-February. The majority of this ice coverage was concentrated in the shallower areas of the lake, while the deeper parts remain unaffected.<\/p>\n

Experts at GLERL provide evidence that due to the complex depths and geology of Lake Superior, it is highly unlikely that the full lake will ever freeze over. The lake current plays a huge role in the freeze over process, with warm water from the depths of the lake rising up to the surface and melting the ice that has formed. This creates a cycle of freezing and melting, that ensures the lake does not fully freeze over.<\/p>\n

Climate Change Effects on Lake Superior<\/h2>\n

The effects of climate change are visible in Lake Superior, with scientists from GLERL reporting that the lake is warming up at a much faster rate than predicted. As the climate steadily gets warmer, the lake could potentially continue to stay mostly unfrozen. In the future, it is possible that warmer winter temperatures could cause the lake to remain free of ice all year round. This raises questions of sustainability, as the lake is seen to be increasingly vulnerable to environmental pollutants such as plastic.<\/p>\n

Lake Superior Tourism<\/h2>\n