Lake Huron on the Rocks: the benefits of ice formation

One of the big differences between Great Lakes coasts and ocean coasts is that during the winter, the shores of the Great Lakes turn to ice. In fact Lake Erie, the shallowest of the Great Lakes, typically ices over during the mid-winter freeze. On Lake Huron we rely on the coastline freezing up as protection from erosion. Fall and winter storm patterns typically come from the northwest during this time period. When winds blow across the lake they generate waves. The strong winds that typically come out of the northwest during the fall and winter also blow across the widest expanse of open lake. As a result, these waves can build a lot of energy and they move across the lake. This means that the waves being generated can pack a wallop once they reach the shore. Ice formation can be really beneficial in protecting the shore from these crashing waves.… continue reading »