Erie, Pennsylvania experiences lake-effect snow in the fall when cold winds from the northwest move across warmer lake water.The air absorbs water vapor from the lake and then deposits it as snow to the east and southeast of the lake. During some winters, the surface of Lake Erie freezessolid. Which statement describes how this event would most likelychange lake-effect snow in Erie, Pennsylvania?


A) Evaporation from the lake would stop, causing less water to be in the air, which would result in a decrease in the amount of snowfall in Erie.

B) The weather in Erie would include excessive snow, wind, and freezing temperatures because the lake would

C) Winds blowing from the lake and into Erie would stop because the lake cannot lose heat when frozen.

B is the correct answer. :)

A) Evaporation from the lake would stop, causing less water to be in the air, which would result in a decrease in the amount of snowfall in Erie.

To determine how the freezing of Lake Erie would most likely change lake-effect snow in Erie, Pennsylvania, we need to consider the process of lake-effect snow formation. Lake-effect snow occurs when cold winds from the northwest pass over the warmer lake water, absorbing water vapor from the lake and depositing it as snow to the east and southeast of the lake.

If the surface of Lake Erie were to freeze solid during winter, it would have several impacts on the formation of lake-effect snow in Erie:

A) Evaporation from the lake would stop, causing less water to be in the air, which would result in a decrease in the amount of snowfall in Erie.
- This statement is accurate. With a frozen lake, there would be no open water surface from which water vapor can evaporate, leading to decreased moisture in the air. As a result, there would be less water available for the formation of lake-effect snow, leading to a decrease in snowfall in Erie.

B) The weather in Erie would include excessive snow, wind, and freezing temperatures because the lake would freeze solid.
- This statement is not accurate. The freezing of the lake would not directly cause excessive snow, wind, or freezing temperatures. These weather conditions are primarily driven by the interaction of cold winds with open water, not the frozen lake.

C) Winds blowing from the lake and into Erie would stop because the lake cannot lose heat when frozen.
- This statement is not accurate. The freezing of the lake does not necessarily cause the winds blowing from the lake to stop. Winds can still blow across the frozen lake and into Erie, although their effect in terms of lake-effect snow formation would be diminished due to the absence of open water.

Therefore, the most likely change in lake-effect snow in Erie, Pennsylvania, if Lake Erie were to freeze solid would be a decrease in the amount of snowfall (option A).