The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heatwaves and Cold‐Spells in Earth's Largest Freshwater Systems
Abstract Extreme water temperatures impact the ecological and economic value of freshwater systems. They disrupt fisheries habitat, trigger harmful algal blooms, and stress coastal infrastructure. This study examines the spatiotemporal patterns of heatwaves and cold‐spells in the Great Lakes using 8...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL116548 |
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| author | Hazem U. Abdelhady David Cannon Ayumi Fujisaki‐Manome Andrew Gronewold Jia Wang |
| author_facet | Hazem U. Abdelhady David Cannon Ayumi Fujisaki‐Manome Andrew Gronewold Jia Wang |
| author_sort | Hazem U. Abdelhady |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Extreme water temperatures impact the ecological and economic value of freshwater systems. They disrupt fisheries habitat, trigger harmful algal blooms, and stress coastal infrastructure. This study examines the spatiotemporal patterns of heatwaves and cold‐spells in the Great Lakes using 82 years of simulated surface temperature data. Significant increasing trends in heatwave duration were observed in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan‐Huron, while cold‐spell duration increased on all lakes except Ontario. Temperature anomalies during these events varied from the climatological mean by as much as ±10°C, but did not change significantly over time. Analysis revealed substantial spatial variability in heatwaves and cold‐spells, both within and across lakes, with differences driven by air temperature and ice cover anomalies as well as associated climate teleconnections (i.e., the East Pacific/North Pacific and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation). These findings highlight the importance of both climatic and lake processes in shaping extreme temperature events. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8b567cd7a3ef40c699bc6662c70b6ce3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-8b567cd7a3ef40c699bc6662c70b6ce32025-08-20T03:58:44ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-07-015214n/an/a10.1029/2025GL116548The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heatwaves and Cold‐Spells in Earth's Largest Freshwater SystemsHazem U. Abdelhady0David Cannon1Ayumi Fujisaki‐Manome2Andrew Gronewold3Jia Wang4Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USACooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USACooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USASchool for Environment and Sustainability University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USANOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab Ann Arbor MI USAAbstract Extreme water temperatures impact the ecological and economic value of freshwater systems. They disrupt fisheries habitat, trigger harmful algal blooms, and stress coastal infrastructure. This study examines the spatiotemporal patterns of heatwaves and cold‐spells in the Great Lakes using 82 years of simulated surface temperature data. Significant increasing trends in heatwave duration were observed in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan‐Huron, while cold‐spell duration increased on all lakes except Ontario. Temperature anomalies during these events varied from the climatological mean by as much as ±10°C, but did not change significantly over time. Analysis revealed substantial spatial variability in heatwaves and cold‐spells, both within and across lakes, with differences driven by air temperature and ice cover anomalies as well as associated climate teleconnections (i.e., the East Pacific/North Pacific and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation). These findings highlight the importance of both climatic and lake processes in shaping extreme temperature events.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL116548lake heatwavelake cold‐spellGreat Lakesextreme lake temperature |
| spellingShingle | Hazem U. Abdelhady David Cannon Ayumi Fujisaki‐Manome Andrew Gronewold Jia Wang The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heatwaves and Cold‐Spells in Earth's Largest Freshwater Systems Geophysical Research Letters lake heatwave lake cold‐spell Great Lakes extreme lake temperature |
| title | The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heatwaves and Cold‐Spells in Earth's Largest Freshwater Systems |
| title_full | The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heatwaves and Cold‐Spells in Earth's Largest Freshwater Systems |
| title_fullStr | The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heatwaves and Cold‐Spells in Earth's Largest Freshwater Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heatwaves and Cold‐Spells in Earth's Largest Freshwater Systems |
| title_short | The Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Heatwaves and Cold‐Spells in Earth's Largest Freshwater Systems |
| title_sort | spatiotemporal dynamics of heatwaves and cold spells in earth s largest freshwater systems |
| topic | lake heatwave lake cold‐spell Great Lakes extreme lake temperature |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL116548 |
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