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Photo Friday: Minnesota lakes take their time ?icing out?05/24/2013
Some lakes in Minnesota are taking their time to thaw this spring, setting new ?ice-out? records.
Attributed to unusually cool spring temperatures, this satellite image shows lingering ice and white lake landscapes.
The first photo was captured on May 12, 2013, when NASA's Terra satellite passed over northern Minn.
?Ice-out? is defined in this context as a lake being free of ice, but the definition often varies.
Some define it based on ease of navigation, while others believe a lake has ?iced-out? when it's 90 percent free of ice, according to a report from the Minnesota ... MORE
Restoring the Great Lakes 2.0: Keep it simple05/24/2013
One of the strongest arguments for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is that everyone knew what needed be done, we just needed the money to do it.
And yet three years later another advisory board met this week to inform the process.
My advice? Keep it simple, take on the big projects and prioritize values over metrics. ... MORE
Aspiring policymakers hit the road to learn about climate change adaptation05/23/2013
Two recent University of Michigan graduates will take a road trip this summer to see how towns and cities throughout the country are adapting to climate change. ... MORE
Comparing the states: Hazardous waste violations05/23/2013
Indiana has the highest percentage of facilities with hazardous waste violations in 2012 among the Great Lakes states, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. New York has the lowest.
The figures come from an EPA map that reports state compliance with regulations. The map's dashboard allows users to choose different measures and different years.
Here are the percentages of large facilities with new hazardous waste violations for each state:
Indiana: 15 percent of 567 large facilities.
Wisconsin: 14 percent of 563 large facilities.
Michigan: 12 percent of 542 large facilities.
Pennsylvania: 10 percent of 1,103 large ... MORE
Winemakers pressing for new grape varieties05/22/2013
Michigan wine grape growers hope for another strong season and that this year's crop will reflect innovation. Some expect to see the first production of wines from at least two varieties of red grapes. ... MORE
?Sunken Treasure?: Documentary explores Great Lakes shipwrecks, promotes respectful diving05/22/2013
With hundreds of shipwrecks scattered across the bottom of the Great Lakes, divers have access to an unrivaled underwater playground. The freshwater environment lends itself to preserving shipwrecks so well, some ships look ready to board.
Divers tempted to swipe an artifact for their mantle or crank a wheel and pretend to sail away could be fined or even imprisoned. A recent documentary aims to educate those with misguided intentions before it gets that far.
?Sunken Treasure: Preserving Michigan's Shipwrecks? was recently released by the Michigan Underwater Preserve Council to foster respect ... MORE
Some farmers bank on drought-resistant corn05/21/2013
Michigan farmers who purchased drought-resistant corn last year don't feel they've wasted their money on the more expensive hybrid. Many farmers agree that recent wet weather doesn't mean there won't be a drought later this summer. ... MORE
Fifty Lakes, One Island: Exploring Isle Royale05/21/2013
Chicago filmmaker George Desort spent 80 days on Lake Superior's Isle Royale, making a documentary about the island's 50 inland lakes, its wildlife and his experiences connecting to the wilderness. ... MORE
Mr. Great Lakes: Ice, energy and transportation05/20/2013
Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM.
This week Kart discusses the Greenland ice sheet, Delta College energy forums and transportation improvements in Bay City.
Text at Mr Great Lakes ... MORE
Watch Great Lakes cities grow (and nature disappear) from space05/20/2013
Google Earth has released a cache of time lapsed images that depict the Earth's changes over the past 28 years.
Users can watch the sprawl over time of Great Lakes cities such as Detroit, Toronto, Chicago, Milwaukee and other places by typing locations in the search field.
The release represents 'the most comprehensive picture of our changing planet ever made available to the public,? according to the website's official blog.
Users can witness the deforestation of the Amazon and glacial retreats in Alaska.
The images were collected as part of a joint mission between ... MORE