The impacts of recent climate change on the hydrology and water resources of the Laurentian Great Lakes

The Great Lakes basin includes Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario. As a result of their large water surface areas, the lakes filter small time scale climatic fluctuations and respond primarily to large scale climatic fluctuations. A major change in the water balance of the region appears to have begun during the late 1960's and is continuing through the present time. The primary change in the water balance has been a sharp increase in summer and fall precipitation that began about 1965. The detailed changes in the water balance and their impacts on lake levels are discussed, as well as the implications for water resource management and socioeconomic effects.