Quantitative Estimates of the Effect of Lake Michigan on Snowfall

Roscoe R. Braham Jr. Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637

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Maureen J. Dungey Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637

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Abstract

A climatological study of snowfall in the snowbelts of Michigan shows that decade-average amounts varied by a factor of 2 during the period from 1909/10 through 1980/81.

The effect of Lake Michigan on total winter snowfall along its shores has been estimated. A long-term average effect of ∼ +10% is found for the Wisconsin shore south of Sheboygan, and an average of ∼ +60% for the Michigan shore, south of Hart, with a minimum effect in the 1930s and a maximum in the 1960s.

Abstract

A climatological study of snowfall in the snowbelts of Michigan shows that decade-average amounts varied by a factor of 2 during the period from 1909/10 through 1980/81.

The effect of Lake Michigan on total winter snowfall along its shores has been estimated. A long-term average effect of ∼ +10% is found for the Wisconsin shore south of Sheboygan, and an average of ∼ +60% for the Michigan shore, south of Hart, with a minimum effect in the 1930s and a maximum in the 1960s.

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