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  • Indiana Oil Spill: Estimate Doubled, Survey Delayed

    On Monday afternoon, oil giant BP reported an oil spill had occurred in Lake Michigan due to a leak at its Whiting refinery in northwest Indiana.

    The Indiana oil spill was reported to have been successfully contained by Monday evening.

    Yesterday, the company more than doubled its estimates regarding how much crude oil has poured into the lake.

    It is now believed that between 630 and 1,638 gallons of oil spilled into Lake Michigan.

    The leak has been a major source of concern for millions of residents in the surrounding area as Lake Michigan is a source of drinking water for several million people.

    Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf, spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard, told the Los Angeles Times that “the danger seems pretty low” with regard to drinking water contamination. He did say they could not say “for certain” whether or not this sentiment would change as the spill is examined more closely.

    One major issue impeding more exact estimations regarding concerns has been the weather.

    The Coast Guard intended to search for crude oil that had possibly been submerged off shore, however the effort has been delayed due to high winds and waves. The conditions made it simply too dangerous for members of the Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or BP’s assessment teams.

    It’s expected that the effort to better examine the extent of the Indiana oil spill will continue on Sunday.

    The Coast Guard’s statement as to the nature of the spill is said to closely echo the early findings of the EPA. The agency said earlier in the week that this particular spill posed no long term risks to the lake. Inspectors also stated they found minimal traces of oil on the shores.

    The EPA had no comment regarding possible changes to their early determination based on BP’s new estimations.

    Despite concerns, this spill is far more tame than the Gulf of Mexico spill. That incident saw 4.9 million barrels of oil leak into the gulf.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Lake Michigan Ice Cover Breaks Record

    Lake Michigan Ice Cover Breaks Record

    According to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 93.29% of Lake Michigan’s surface is covered in ice. This ice cover breaks the previous record of 93.1 percent in 1977.

    Just last week, the ice cover reached 92.2 percent for the entire five-lake system. By Monday night, it had dropped to 83.9 percent. The ice cover was measured just in time as the high temperatures caused most of the ice to melt, bringing the ice cover down to 77.1 percent by Tuesday.

    Lake Michigan and the other great lakes are used to supply drinking water to the nearby residents. Millions of people rely on the lakes for their drinking water. Only the surface of the lake was frozen.

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    Great Lakes ice cover declined 71% between 1973 – 2010. According to a study from 2012, researchers at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory found that the biggest loser of ice during the 1973 – 2010 time period was Lake Ontario, which saw an 88% decline in ice cover. During the same time period, Superior lost 79% of its ice, Michigan lost 77%, Huron lost 62%, and Erie lost 50%. The loss of ice is due to warming of the lake waters. Winter air temperatures over the lower Great Lake increased by about 2.7°F (1.5°C) from 1973 – 2010, and by 4 – 5°F (2.3 – 2.7°C) over the northern Lakes, including Lake Superior.

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    The ice cover on the lakes will likely prove the be a positive thing as it will help raise water levels that have been low for the last several years. The rise in water will also benefit Great Lakes tourism and commerce.

    What do you think of the record breaking ice cover on Lake Michigan?

    Images via YouTube

  • Jimmy Fallon Takes Polar Plunge in Lake Michigan

    Jimmy Fallon and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel took the Polar Plunge into Lake Michigan on Sunday morning. Fallon promised the mayor if he appeared on his show in New York City that he would come to Chicago to take the big cold plunge.

    Emanuel, who wore a green Chicago Public Library T-shirt and shorts, went first. Jimmy Fallon followed immediately after–clad in his usual suit and tie.

    The annual event raises money for Special Olympics in Chicago, and draws thousands of participants every year. Lots of fans carried pictures of Jimmy Fallon on signs–clearly excited that the new Tonight Show host was participating in the event in their city. The Polar Plunge takes place in cities all over the United States where the weather gets below freezing in the winter time.

    Special Olympics Chicago President Jen Kramer credits both Jimmy Fallon and Rahm Emanuel for attracting more than 3000 participants for this year’s event. That was more than 700 over last years total.

    Jimmy Fallon joked during his show on Wednesday that he agreed to make the plunge before realizing what it actually entailed. He also said Emanuel told him he had to “toughen up” before Emanuel would appear on his show. The comedian’s followers egged him to do it with a #JimmyPlungeWithUs campaign that took place on Twitter.

    Jimmy Fallon is such a wonderful sport. It’s unlikely that his fans doubted for a minute that he would take place in the Polar Plunge in Chicago. Even if his fans hadn’t created the Twitter campaign, Fallon likely would have jumped in that freezing cold water anyway.

    It’s wonderful that his presence drew even more people to this year’s event. That means that much more money was raised for Special Olympics. Children and young adults with a variety of disabilities benefit from the Special Olympics. The funds raise help with training as well as with the actual event.

    Image via Instagram

  • Jimmy Fallon Takes Polar Plunge With Mayor Rahm Emanuel

    Jimmy Fallon, host of The Tonight Show, asked Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, to be one of his guests on the show. The Mayor responded to Fallon’s invite on his Twitter account by saying that he would only be a guest on the show if Fallon takes part in the Chicago Polar Plunge.

    Emanuel agreed to participate in the Polar Plunge after challenging students in Chicago to read 2 million books over the course of the summer.

    Chicago’s Polar Plunge is an annual event wherein participants take a dip into the freezing Lake Michigan to raise money for the Special Olympics.

    On Wednesday night, Fallon told his audience that he would be taking part in the event, and that he has no idea what the Polar Plunge is. He then replied to Emanuel’s tweet by saying he’s in on the Polar Plunge with a hashtag #SwimmyFallon. On March 1, Fallon again tweeted saying that he got his ticket and he’s wearing a suit for the plunge. He then urged participants to show solidarity by wearing a necktie. Fallon also said that he is a man of his words and a man of his tweets.

    On Sunday Morning, Fallon showed up in a suit, as he promised, and plunged into the 32-degree water in 10-degree weather with the Mayor. A few moments before the event started, Chicago firefighters went into the water and removed ice chunks in the area.

    Fallon had a shocked expression on his face as he took the plunge. Both Fallon and Emanuel were completely soaked from head to toe as the crowds cheered while watching them.

    After taking a dip in the cold Lake Michigan, Fallon posted on Instagram and Twitter with the caption “Officially PLUNGED!!!!!”

    Sunday’s Chicago Polar Plunge had 3,200 people in attendance and just a little less than $1 million was raised for the Special Olympics, breaking the record for Chicago.

    Image via Twitter

  • Lake Michigan’s Shoreline Is Filling Up With Massive Ice Balls [Video]

    Well, everyone knows how cold it has been in Michigan for the past couple of weeks, causing many people to lose power. Recently, something that people in Michigan have come to refer to as “ice balls” have started showing up on the shore of Lake Michigan.

    The weather has had drastic turns in all parts of the country, but it has hit especially hard with the cold and the snow in the Northeast and the Midwest.

    Lake Michigan has always been known for its beauty as well as some odd sights over the years, and this is certainly one to marvel at in both ways.

    It is something that has been seen before on the shore of Lake Michigan, but still quite a sight to see for anyone who is not familiar. The ice balls form in water that is just below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and start out as small chunks of ice.

    From there, the chunks form layer by layer, as the waves shape them into spheres, eventually ending up on the shore.

    The lighthouses have also been making their own kind of art pieces along with the help of the cold. Check out this graphic.

    The ice balls have been forming in Glen Arbor, Michigan which is north of the Sleeping Bear Dunes. A similar incident happened near Traverse City almost a year ago when huge boulders that were up to about 50 pounds in size started washing up.

    This particular winter phenomenon is not something that is new to the area, but the size of the ice balls is what is truly alarming.

    Parts of Lake Michigan have also completely frozen over for the first time since 1936 during the brutal winter that people are experiencing in Michigan right now.

    With the brutal temperatures that people in Michigan and other parts of the Midwest have been experiencing, it has been dangerous for some people. All over the country, regions are experiencing the coldest temperatures in many years, and in some places, it is the coldest that it has ever been.

    When people lost power in Michigan, people were forced to turn to their neighbors or try to make it on their own. How is everyone finding ways to deal with this rough winter?

    Image via Youtube