The line graph describes the highest percentage of lake surface covered by ice of the three Great Lakes between t2000 and 2020.
Overall, it is evident from the graph that the surface ice of the Lake Superior and the Lake Michigan had a similar proportion over the last decade, however the Lake Erie was mostly covered by surface ice, before showing a sharp decline by the end of the second decade.
Lake Superior and Lake Michigan had a similar pattern for surface ice, in the year 2000 there was 40% and 50% surface ice, respectively, in both the lakes, compared to the Lake Erie at 90%. In the year 2005, only Lake Superior’s surface ice increased from 40% to 50%, while Lake Michigan still had the same ratio of surface covered as shown in the year 2000, and Lake Erie also had the same surface ice, as in the year 2000. Lake Superior’s surface covered by ice decreased from 50% to 30%, and Lake Michigan had a similar surface ice pattern, as in the year 2005, which is just below 30%.
By the year 2015, the surface ice for both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan increased to just above 90% and 80% respectively, whereas Lake Erie had similar ice coverage, that is at 90%. By the year 2020, all the three Great Lakes showed a decrease in surface ice coverage, both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan at 20%, and Lake Erie at 40%.