Comments on: What effect do major bodies of water (such as the Great Lakes) have on the weather? http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm Thu, 24 May 2012 09:24:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Eye_Mac http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6109 Eye_Mac Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:29:28 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm#comment-6109 I lived by lake Superior. because it rarely freezes over most winters it acts as a heat sink. close to the lake the summers are much cooler and the winter is warmer. Lake effect snow is a hazard. That large body of water puts a lot of moisture into the atmosphere so when it snows you tend to get much more. I lived by lake Superior. because it rarely freezes over most winters it acts as a heat sink. close to the lake the summers are much cooler and the winter is warmer. Lake effect snow is a hazard. That large body of water puts a lot of moisture into the atmosphere so when it snows you tend to get much more.

]]> By: pegminer http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6110 pegminer Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:29:28 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm#comment-6110 Lake Erie is one of the major causes of heavy snowfall in Western New York, due to "lake effect" snow. Lake Erie is one of the major causes of heavy snowfall in Western New York, due to "lake effect" snow.

]]> By: mysticspirit http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6111 mysticspirit Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:29:28 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm#comment-6111 The effect of Great Lakes on weather in the region is called the lake effect. In winter, the moisture picked up by the prevailing winds from the west can produce very heavy snowfall, especially along lake shores to the east such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and New York. The lakes also moderate seasonal temperatures somewhat, by absorbing heat and cooling the air in summer, then slowly radiating that heat in autumn. This temperature buffering produces areas known as "fruit belts", where fruit typically grown farther south can be produced. Western Michigan has apple and cherry orchards, and vineyards adjacent to the lake shore as far north as the Grand Traverse Bay. The eastern shore of Lake Michigan and the southern shore of Lake Erie have many wineries as a result of this, as does the Niagara Peninsula between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. A similar phenomenon occurs in the Finger Lakes region of New York as well as Prince Edward county on the northeast shore of Lake Ontario. Related to lake effect, is the occurrence of fog over medium-sized areas, particularly along the shorelines of the lakes. This is most noticeable along Lake Superior's shores, due to its maritime climate. The Great Lakes have been observed to help strengthen storms, such as Hurricane Hazel in 1954, and a frontal system in 2007 that spawned a few tornadoes in Michigan and Ontario, picking up warmth from the lakes to fuel them. Also observed in 1996, was a rare subtropical cyclone forming in Lake Huron, dubbed the 1996 Lake Huron cyclone. The effect of Great Lakes on weather in the region is called the lake effect. In winter, the moisture picked up by the prevailing winds from the west can produce very heavy snowfall, especially along lake shores to the east such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and New York. The lakes also moderate seasonal temperatures somewhat, by absorbing heat and cooling the air in summer, then slowly radiating that heat in autumn. This temperature buffering produces areas known as "fruit belts", where fruit typically grown farther south can be produced. Western Michigan has apple and cherry orchards, and vineyards adjacent to the lake shore as far north as the Grand Traverse Bay. The eastern shore of Lake Michigan and the southern shore of Lake Erie have many wineries as a result of this, as does the Niagara Peninsula between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. A similar phenomenon occurs in the Finger Lakes region of New York as well as Prince Edward county on the northeast shore of Lake Ontario. Related to lake effect, is the occurrence of fog over medium-sized areas, particularly along the shorelines of the lakes. This is most noticeable along Lake Superior’s shores, due to its maritime climate.
The Great Lakes have been observed to help strengthen storms, such as Hurricane Hazel in 1954, and a frontal system in 2007 that spawned a few tornadoes in Michigan and Ontario, picking up warmth from the lakes to fuel them. Also observed in 1996, was a rare subtropical cyclone forming in Lake Huron, dubbed the 1996 Lake Huron cyclone.

]]> By: mdv1229 http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6112 mdv1229 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:29:28 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm#comment-6112 Tsunamis are not weather events. Tsunamis are not weather events.

]]> By: Kyle http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6113 Kyle Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:29:28 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/what-effect-do-major-bodies-of-water-such-as-the-great-lakes-have-on-the-weather.htm#comment-6113 Clouds and precip require vertical motion in the atmosphere to form. Here are a couple ways that bodies of water create vertical motion: 1. Air moves quickly across water due to low friction, when the air hits the land the friction from the land causes the air to "pile up". 2. Water retains its temperature longer than air, thus it stays warmer in the winter compared to the air. Cold air moving across warm water causes the air to warm up and rise upwards (warm air is more buoyant than cold...similar to a hot air balloon). Cyclones and Hurricanes are fueled by this moist buoyant air. Tsunamis form because of sea floor earthquakes, not weather-related per se. Clouds and precip require vertical motion in the atmosphere to form. Here are a couple ways that bodies of water create vertical motion:

1. Air moves quickly across water due to low friction, when the air hits the land the friction from the land causes the air to "pile up".

2. Water retains its temperature longer than air, thus it stays warmer in the winter compared to the air. Cold air moving across warm water causes the air to warm up and rise upwards (warm air is more buoyant than cold…similar to a hot air balloon). Cyclones and Hurricanes are fueled by this moist buoyant air.

Tsunamis form because of sea floor earthquakes, not weather-related per se.

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