Marie Sanderson

Climatic change and great lakes levels the impact on shipping

This paper represents an attempt to combine the output of several models that deal with future climatic, hydrologic and economic conditions in the Great Lakes and makes some predictions about the possible impact of one scenario of 2 × CO2 climate on Great Lakes shipping. It is realized that there is a great deal of uncertainty in all the models and that improvements are continually being made. Data from a General Circulation Model of future temperature and precipitation in the Great Lakes basin, a Great Lakes levels and flows model from the Canada Centre for Inland Waters and an International Joint Commisions Great Lakes economic model modified by the University of Wisconsin were used. The 1900–1976 period of lake levels and flows was used. The hydrologic model indicated that future mean lake levels may be reduced by one-half meter, and that the extreme low levels of the mid 1960s could occur 77% of the time in the future. No ice cover is predicted for any lake except Erie, permitting an eleven month shipping season. Five scenarios of future impact on shipping were evaluated. It was found that mean annual shipping costs may increase by 30% and the frequency of years when costs exceed those of the period of low lake levels (1963–65) could rise to 97%. Possible policy options in a future with climatically induced lower lake levels could include regulation to keep levels artificially high by diversions into the system, or increased dredging of the connecting channels.

The Effect of Metropolitan Detroit-Windsor on Precipitation

Abstract Most recent research in urban precipitation has suggested that the presence of the city itself causes increased precipitation. The present paper presents the results of five years of precipitation measurement from an international network of raingages in Windsor-Detroit. Increased precipitation downwind appeared to be the case only in summer. The number of precipitation days and the number of heavy precipitation days were greatest in the southwest urban area and decreased downwind.

Three Aspects of the Urban Climate of Detroit-Windsor

Abstract In the present study, a beginning is made into the investigation of the effect of the urban area on the microclimate of Detroit-Windsor. Diurnal and seasonal urban-rural temperature differences were investigated using three-hourly temperature data for a 10-year period for City, Metropolitan and Windsor airports. Maximum differences were observed in early morning hours and minimum or zero differences at midday. Seasonally, maximum differences were observed in August–October and minimum differences in January–March. The differences between urban and rural atmospheric transmissivity ratios were investigated for clear winter days using a Kipp and Zonen pyranometer and a model to predict incoming solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere. Urban ratios averaged 9% less, and under calm conditions, reached 25% less than in adjacent rural areas. Data from the South Eastern Michigan Council of Governments precipitation network in the Detroit area were used in a comparison with regional seasonal precipit...

Pre-monsoon rainfall and its variability in Bangladesh: a trend surface analysis / Chute des pluis de la pré-mousson et sa variabilité au Bangladesh: Tendance d'analyse en superficie

Abstract Bangladesh, with its small but rich agricultural land (total area 9 million ha) and large population (80 million) is faced with an acute food crisis. The economy of Bangladesh is dependent mainly upon agriculture which, in turn, is dependent upon rainfall. An increase in crop acreage and productivity during the pre-monsoon season, March to May, offers a partial solution to the problem. The water available from the rainfall of this season could be utilized through proper planning for better agricultural uses. The present study is an attempt at an inventory of such pre-monsoon rainfall, both monthly and seasonally, and its variability over time and space. The technique employed is that of trend surface mapping.

A Comparison of Canadian and United States Standard Methods of Measuring Precipitation

Abstract Methods of measuring precipitation vary from country to country. Consequently, the comparability of precipitation data along international borders is questionable. The present paper compares 5 years of precipitation data at Windsor, Ontario, using the standard Canadian and United States methods of measuring precipitation. Monthly rain amounts are very similar, but substantial differences exist in snow measurement. The Canadian method appears to overestimate precipitation from snowfall.

Drought in the Canadian Northwest

A CORDING to popular concept, the northern regions ot North America and Eurasia are differentiated areally into a series of latitudinal belts of climate, vegetation, and soils. Long before adequate observations were available, vegetation and climate were mapped by extrapolation from northern Europe eastward across Siberia and westward across North America. Bordering the Arctic Sea is the tundra; to the south of this are two concentric coniferous-forest belts, the northern and southern subArctic forest. Soil maps came later; but since observations of the soils were largely lacking, recourse was had to the familiar maps of climate and vegetation, and belts of muskeg and podsol were fitted in. However, there is growing evidence, at least in northern Canada, that the actual distribution of climate, vegetation, and soil is quite different from that concept. Recent observation and experiment in the Northwest Territories and the northern parts of the Prairie Provinces indicate that the climate is not humid, the vegetation is not forest, and the soil is not podsol.

Surface Deposition of Lead and Cadmium from the Atmosphere in the Detroit River—Lake St. Clair Region

Abstract The research reported here forms part of a large multidisciplinary study of four toxic contaminants — lead, cadmium, PCBs, and octachlorostyrene in the Essex region of southwestern Ontario. The purpose of this part of the project is to quantify the atmospheric loading of the metallic contaminants. A bulk precipitation sampler, wet-only precipitation sampler, and recording rain gauge were installed at an urban and rural site. Results from 2 years of data indicate that atmospheric loading of lead is 40–50 times that of cadmium in the city and 16–40 times that of cadmium in the rural areas. Lead loadings in the city were found to be 2–4 times higher than in the rural areas, while cadmium loadings appeared to be similar in both areas. Concentrations of the metals are higher in winter than in summer, but because of higher summer precipitation surface loadings are similar in both seasons. Preliminary statistical analysis indicates that concentrations of the metals are related to intensity and amount of precipitation but not usually to wind direction.

Surface Loading from Pollutants in Precipitation in Southern Ontario: Some Climatic and Statistical Aspects

Abstract Monthly samples of precipitation during the period June 1975 to June 1977 from bulk type precipitation gauges located in six watersheds in southern Ontario were analyzed for sulphate, nitrogen, phosphate, chloride, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, heavy metals, and PCBs. The relationship between the surface loading of the pollutant and the amount of precipitation during the observation period was investigated and a significant relationship at the .05 level was found for all pollutants except sodium. The loadings in g/ha/d were tested statistically for spatial and temporal variability. All parameter loadings showed a downward trend over time and it was suggested that this is due to decreased precipitation during the second year of observation. No significant seasonal differences were found in the surface loadings. Analysis of variance tests indicated that at the .05 level of significance, no significant differences in monthly loadings were observed for all parameters except calcium and magnesium, although some locations were very near and others hundreds of kilometers distant from the major sources of industrial pollutants.

WHY UNIVERSITY-BASED WATER INSTITUTES?

A university-based water institute can play a vital role in the research into and management of Canada’s water resources. It can draw upon the expertise of academics in many disciplines and it is imperative that water research be multi-disciplinary in nature. It is an added advantage if the institute has members from several universities, since often not all the expertise necessary to solve water problems is available at one university. In a university setting, a multi-disciplinary education can be provided to future aquatic scientists and managers.Also, in a university setting, water workshops and conferences involving government agencies and local citizens groups can be held in a non-adversarial environment. Case studies from The Great Lakes Institute (University of Windsor) and The Water Network (Universities of Waterloo, Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier and Western Ontario) will be cited.