EPA’s latest climate indicators report shows significant changes for Michigan and the Great Lakes

Weather patterns caused by climate change are increasingly impacting all aspects of life in most parts of the United States – and Michigan is no exception.

This is according to the latest Climate Indicators Report from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Some of the impacts of climate change are particularly evident in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. One example is ice cover on the Great Lakes.

“All five lakes have experienced some long-term decline, but the decline is statistically significant in only one lake (Superior),” the report said. “Years with much lower than normal ice cover appear to have become more common over the past two decades, particularly in lakes such as Erie and Superior, which have historically been almost completely frozen over.”

The data shows that the lakes are now frozen over for 8 to 46 fewer days than in the early 1970s. The decline in Lake Ontario and Lake Superior is “statistically significant.”

The water levels and surface temperatures of the Great Lakes have also changed. While water levels have fluctuated dramatically from year to year, the average surface temperatures of all five Great Lakes have increased since 1995.

“Scientists who use computer models to simulate future climate change are uncertain whether Great Lakes water levels will rise or fall overall in the future, but they generally agree that there will be greater annual fluctuations due to droughts and extreme precipitation,” the report said. “Another possible impact of warmer water, reduced ice cover, and increased evaporation is a corresponding increase in precipitation over nearby land, particularly ‘lake effect’ snow.”

“Rising water temperatures are also likely to expand the range of some invasive species, such as the zebra mussel, and provide them with new advantages. They will also promote the growth of certain waterborne bacteria that can cause disease in humans,” the report said.

Another area where Michigan and the Midwest are particularly affected is extreme single-day rainfall events. Nationwide, such short, heavy rains have increased dramatically since the 1980s and often cause severe flooding. Short rainfall events can also have other negative impacts, such as crop damage and soil erosion.

In terms of temperatures, the report also found that Michigan has seen one of the largest declines in the number of “heating degree days” in recent decades, meaning that as temperatures rise overall, people now have fewer days in which they need to heat their homes.

Overall, the report concludes that “EPA’s indicators provide ample compelling evidence that climate change is increasingly affecting human health, society, and ecosystems in a variety of ways.”

And those impacts are becoming increasingly clear. “Extreme heat, floods, and wildfires have become more frequent, harming human health, threatening livelihoods, and causing costly damage,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement. “Regular updates to the data on the Climate Indicators website and in the report help us track these unprecedented changes so we are better informed as we work together to address the crisis.”