Ice On Maine Lakes Melting 1-2 Weeks Earlier Than Historical Averages

[hatrack]

Ice on dozens of lakes in Maine and four other states is melting earlier in the year than in decades past, according to a new analysis.

The study, "On Thin Ice: The Melting of an American Pastime," examined the records of ice cover on more than 50 lakes in Maine, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York and Alaska.

In Maine, the study found that Moosehead Lake, the state's largest body of water, is now thawing eight days earlier than its historic average based on 149 years of records. Damariscotta Lake is clearing 12 days earlier than in the past, and Rangeley Lake is thawing five days earlier. The analysis mirrors other studies that show that the climate is changing, said Susan Sargent, Maine representative of the National Environmental Trust.

EDIT

The study looked at data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, which is part of the University of Colorado and is affiliated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The early thawing isn't limited to just the lakes included in the analysis. Ice on Lake Auburn also clears out earlier than it did in the past, said Mary Jane Dillingham, a spokeswoman for the Auburn Water District. "We're trending toward warmer springs," she said. "It's always (ice-out) in April now. No more in May."

EDIT

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/03/08/ap2581216.html

[benburch]

1. In my home town, Elgin, IL, we absolutely have global warming.

100 years ago, the impoundment upstream of the Elgin Dam used to freeze so completely that gangs of men used to go out on the ice with horses and sleds and harvest ice. The impoundment no longer even freezes all the way across any more, much less to the depth that would allow an ice harvest.

When I was a child, and even when my children were small, the two ponds at the park at the end of my street would freeze solidly enough for skating. Nobody has been able to skate on these ponds in 15 years.

[catnhatnh]

2. Milton NH....

has an ice racing organization....This year 12-14 committee meetings,1 (curtailed) day of racing....announced the end of the season last week instead of the more normal mid-late April announcement....

[Odin2005]

3. Minnesota's just had it's warmest winter in recorded history.

Maples are starting to penetrate into the North Woods. The great lakes refused to freeze over. It's fucking unreal.

[jpak]

4. The Moosehead data was published in Nature many years ago

and was the first of these kinds of records to be examined.

And I know first hand how dicey ice fishing has become in Maine (especially in the early season)...

:(

[phantom power]

5. go for a swim?

[jpak]

6. Nope - just canceled the New Year's Day festivities a couple times...

Kids bummed...

[phantom power]

7. I feel bad for winter-sport enthusiasts.

It seems that every sport involving snow or ice is in peril of disappearing in a few decades.

[jpak]

8. My brother is an assistant middle school ski coach in Maine

It's been terrible season this year and one Maine county heavily dependant on winter sports has asked the state for assistance.

Winter without snow and ice sucks (for me anyway)...