Origin and Evolution of the Great Lakes |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Dept of Geological Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824;2. Dept of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824;1. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea;2. Clinique Universitaire de Radiologie et Imagerie Médicale (CURIM), Université Joseph Fourier, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble, CS 10217, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France;3. Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea;4. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands;5. INSERM U 823, Institut A Bonniot, 38700 La Tronche, France;1. Indiana University Northwest, 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46408, USA;2. Openlands, 25 East Washington Street, Suite 1650, Chicago, IL 60602-1708, USA;1. Great Lakes Fishery Commission, 2200 Commonwealth Blvd. Suite 100, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA;2. U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Hammond Bay Biological Station, 11188 Ray Road, Millersburg, Michigan 49759, USA;1. Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA;2. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, USA;3. Department of Applied Economics and Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, USA |
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| Abstract: | This paper presents a synthesis of traditional and recently published work regarding the origin and evolution of the Great Lakes. It differs from previously published reviews by focusing on three topics critical to the development of the Great Lakes: the glaciation of the Great Lakes watershed during the late Cenozoic, the evolution of the Great Lakes since the last glacial maximum, and the record of lake levels and coastal erosion in modern times.The Great Lakes are a product of glacial scour and were partially or totally covered by glacier ice at least six times since 0.78 Ma. During retreat of the last ice sheet large proglacial lakes developed in the Great Lakes watershed. Their levels and areas varied considerably as the oscillating ice margin opened and closed outlets at differing elevations and locations; they were also significantly affected by channel downcutting, crustal rebound, and catastrophic inflows from other large glacial lakes.Today, lake level changes of about a 1/3 m annually, and up to 2 m over 10 to 20 year time periods, are mainly climatically-driven. Various engineering works provide small control on lake levels for some but not all the Great Lakes. Although not as pronounced as former changes, these subtle variations in lake level have had a significant effect on shoreline erosion, which is often a major concern of coastal residents. |
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