To us, the main effect of climate warming means our lake ice is changing. Today, you can’t just circle a date on your calendar and know your first trip across the lake can be made safely, just because you have in the past. It is more important now than ever for the ice community to learn to adapt to our changing ice. Climate warming means even the experienced are heading into a new and unfamiliar ice regime. Let’s be smart, situationally aware, share information, and help each other make the most of our ice experience today and in the future. After all, we are a tribe that loves the ice. Together we can combine and share satellite technology with your experience and on-ice observations. All you have to accept is that climate change is here and that you can thrive on the ice so long as you are open to new ideas and approaches!
Recent research tells the story we would be smart to listen to:
“…an extensive loss of lake ice will occur within the next generation…” Sharma and others, 2019.
“…for every 1°C increase in global air temperature, lakes are estimated to warm by 0.9°C and lose 9.7 days of ice cover”. Grant and others, October 2021.
“The changes to and loss of lake ice expected in Canada and the northern USA is not the distant future. Understanding that the ice season will get shorter is important but for those that travel on it, the risks increase because ice formation and decay will change, too. We need new and innovative tools to help the lake ice community to observe, adapt and be resilient to climate change. Ice Time is our guide along that path into the future”.
Dr. Paul Cooley, NextGen Environmental Research Inc.