The frigid arctic air left Lake Superior with a lot of ice last week. Below is the ice coverage of the world’s largest freshwater lake.
Yes, Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world if we use surface area as a measure of size. Lake Superior has a surface area of 31,000 square miles.
Lake Superior is slightly smaller than the state of Indiana (approximately 35,000 square miles).
Lake Superior’s ice coverage increased from 34% to 52% over the past week.
High-resolution satellite imagery shows our massive Great Lakes, but the ice-free areas are much smaller. Unfortunately, we rarely get to see the ice under completely clear skies this time of year.
lake superior ice
In addition to growing ice, one visual effect we’ll definitely see is a decrease in lake effect clouds. In the image above, you can see that lake effect clouds are not forming on the ice-covered west and east ends of Lake Superior.
Ice growth over the past week has added 6,000 square miles to Lake Superior. That’s about the size of Connecticut.
lake superior ice
While satellites are a great way to view ice sheets, a more accurate map is a manual/digital combination of ice maps.
great lakes ice
Currently, 52% of the entire Great Lakes system is covered by ice.
Lake Huron is 71% covered by ice and Lake Erie is 94% covered by ice.
As a warm pattern develops this weekend into next week, the Great Lakes may have reached peak winter ice cover. Peak ice peaks usually occur in the last week of February or the first few days of March.
Read the original article at mlive.com.
