Great Lakes Water Level Forecasting at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

A meteorology degree provides fundamental knowledge that can translate well into the field of hydrology. Over the last 8 years, I’ve been able to utilize my education in atmospheric science and apply those concepts to perform operational hydrology tasks for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE employs a diverse workforce, not just engineers, that includes meteorologists and physical scientists. My position is in the Detroit District of USACE where my main mission is to forecast water levels for the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes basin is a unique watershed given the large lakes and international border. Water levels across the Great Lakes fluctuate seasonally based on the weather and hydrologic conditions the basin experiences. The primary drivers of water level change are precipitation, runoff, and evaporation, which when combined help to estimate the water supply to the lakes. A meteorologist can be a good fit for an operational hydrology role as they are trained to forecast weather and hydrologic variables, have experience with numerical modeling, and have practice communicating science to the general public. Written and verbal communication of the water level forecast is a major component of the job and being able to describe uncertainties that exist in longer-term forecasts, spanning several months. This presentation will speak to the application of meteorological principles in operational hydrology and water management of the Great Lakes.