2010 Currents

[DOkie]

I was reading the post of the bouys coming off of Mackinac. I noticed you guys had some pretty good currents running this year. There was one point where the currents were running in opposite directions within 5 feet. (Have to admit, it made for a pretty nice drift dive).

Although it's nice in this area to have a current to carry the silt away (it's pretty crappy diving here) very rarely is it anything bothersome. This year has been a different story. Again, running in opposite directions and enough to straighten you out on a line.

Is it just the rain we've had that's causing this?

 

[dsc2679]

Hi Dokie, we've always theorized that the wind had a significant affect too. A steady West wind for several days might push some water to the East (in the Straits, L. Huron). If this was followed by a day or two of variable, or Easterly winds, that water mass then would return to the West (L. Michigan), causing a current. This is just a theory.

That said, there is obviously a flow from Superior to Huron to Erie... I don't think this would be appreciable in the Lakes, but certainly it is in the rivers. Now, does L. Michigan flow into Huron or into the Chicago River, I don't know.

I have also seen the current run in opposite directions up there. Especially on the Minneopolis (by the bridge) and the Young. It is very weird and a bit disorienting.

Did you end up buying new gloves?

Doug

 

[pelagic_by_nature]

Lake Michigan flows into Lake Huron. The current from this movement is strongest in the straits. Wind does play a huge factor, though, like you mentioned. A strong wind from the west pushes water to the east and when that wind subsides, the current in the straits may flow slightly west or be non existent due to the forces canceling each other out.