Lake Erie, the fourth largest of the Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh largest body of water in the world, is currently undergoing a strange phenomenon.
Located along the borders of Ontario, Canada, and the US states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, those who visit Lake Erie are witnessing its water levels drop rapidly. But what could be causing this seemingly quick drainage?
The Jet Express Ferry Facebook page shared images from their dock in Port Clinton, Ohio, showing the tide’s significant recession. Comments on the post included playful remarks, such as one user asking, “Can you walk to Put-In-Bay now?” and another joking, “Looks like they didn’t pay the bill and it was repo.” A third person sarcastically asked, “Ok, who pulled the plug!?”
In Kingsville, Ontario, the receding waters revealed a shipwreck about 160 yards offshore. Matt Vermette, who discovered the wreck, told CBC News: “I certainly didn’t expect to find a shipwreck… It was really cool. I saw some birds sitting on a structure and thought it must be an old dock… but no, it’s definitely a shipwreck.”
The explanation for this sudden drop in water levels lies in the weather and the unique shape of Lake Erie, as detailed by the Detroit Free Press. A cold front with strong winds reaching up to 46 mph, which prompted gale warnings, is the main reason behind this event.
Because of Lake Erie’s shape, winds from the southwest can push water across the lake, moving it from the western basin near places like Detroit and Toledo to the eastern basin near Buffalo. This creates the appearance of the lake “draining” in the western areas.
Jay Austin, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, explained to the Detroit Free Press, “The effectiveness of the wind to create these large coastal displacements is a function of how deep the lake is. Shallow lakes are more prone to that than a deep lake like Superior or Ontario.”
In some scenarios, this can lead to a phenomenon known as a “seiche,” where displaced water returns suddenly, akin to waves sloshing in a bathtub. However, experts predict that the current conditions will not result in a seiche since the winds are anticipated to gradually weaken and change direction, allowing the water to return slowly.
Seiches can pose significant dangers. For instance, in 1844, Lake Erie experienced a 22-foot seiche that resulted in the deaths of 78 people, as reported by Lake Erie Living Magazine.
This fascinating yet concerning occurrence might make one reconsider their plans for a lakeside vacation home.