Here in the Keweenaw Peninsula when we hear “lake effect” we immediately think of snow and lots of it. But we also can get lake effect or lake enhanced precipitation during the fall in the form of rain showers. If you have ever been in the Keweenaw on a cold, windy fall day and noticed how odd the weather seems because one minute it is sunny and the next it is raining, then most likely you have experienced lake effect rain. Why do we get lake effect precipitation? Since this is a #ThrowbackThursday post you probably have guessed it must have something to do with geology. You’re right! Around a billion years ago, lava layers were thrust upwards along the Keweenaw Fault. These thrust-up layers resulted in higher elevation land which helps the moisture fall out of the clouds. What about the lake? Of course, the lake is essential! Lake Superior is a product of several geological events and processes. A few of these include: the Midcontinental Rift around 1.1 billion years ago, sedimentation, massive erosion through the eons, and glaciation. The last glaciers retreated only around 10,000 years ago. So Lake Superior was long in the making. For more information on Lake Superior’s history and importance visit: geo.mtu.edu/~raman/SilverI/Lake/Welcome.html
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:00:00 +0000
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