Animation of Historical Great Lakes Ice Cover

NOAA GLERL's ice cover dataset extends from 1973 to present, serving the Great Lakes community in research, application, and management. Large interannual and decadal variability are observed, as well as a downward trend.

The map shows the extent of the maximum ice cover on the Great Lakes for each year. Data is from the U.S. National Ice Center and Canadian Ice Service. Satellite data is combined with other sources to translate daily ice charts into a pixel grid of percent cover.

The bar chart shows the maximum total % cover for the Great Lakes basin for each year.

Back to the main GLERL ice page