14 DAY TRIAL // Over the course of this century, climate change will contribute to a shift in precipitations over the American continent, which will force intense spring storms to develop over the Great Lakes area more often. This will have negative effects on the large bodies of water, especially on Lake Erie.
According to University of Michigan investigators, the number and dimensions of so-called dead zones (hypoxic areas) and algal blooms will be increased significantly. Both these phenomena will drain oxygen from the water, killing most of the other marine species.
U-M experts say that additional conservation actions are urgently needed to address this issue, since the five lakes are of extremely economic importance to both Canada and the United States.
Overall, spring precipitation levels are expected to increase by 30 to 40 percent. This means that vast amounts of phosphorous and nitrogen will be carried into the lakes from surrounding agricultural fields. The chemicals will then promote the growth of oxygen-consuming algae.