Band 7+: The graph below shows the maximum percentage of surface ice covering of the great lakes between 2000 and 2020. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparison where relevant.

This line graph describes the highest percentage of the lake surface covered by ice in three of the Great Lakes from 2000 to 2020. Units are measured in percentages.

There is a general trend of similar levels in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, while Lake Erie followed a different pattern. However, all of the Lake shows a sharp decline after 2015.

First, in Lake Superior, there is a considerable variation in the ice coverage, starting at 40% in 2000, with a high of 90% in 2015 and a low of 20% in 2020. Meanwhile, Lake Michigan has a lower percentage of ice each year, but the changes are consistent in both Lakes. The high peaked around 80% in 2015, and the low fell to 20% in 2020. There was a similar trend between the two Lakes in 2005, where Lake Superior had only 50% and Lake Michigan had approximately 30%.

By contrast, Lake Erie had a completely different trend, as the maximum amount of ice fluctuated between only 90% and 95% from 2000 to 2015. After that point, the number dropped dramatically to nearly 40% in 2020.