Publié le 31 janvier 2026 à 13h13
Le couvert de glace sur les Grands Lacs connait un important rattrapage, depuis deux semaines. Mine de rien, la présence ou l’absence de glace sur ces étendues d’eau peut jouer un grand rôle sur le mercure et les précipitations jusqu’au Québec. Explications.
En bref :
Table of Contents
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La glace gagne du terrain sur les Grands Lacs;
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Selon les scénarios,la présence ou l’absence de glace peut avoir une influence sur l’intensité du froid et des précipitations au Québec;
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Le golfe du saint-Laurent n’est pas en reste non plus,au niveau couvert de glace;
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L’est du Québec pourrait bientôt connaître son mercure le plus froid de l’hiver jusqu’à maintenant.
L’heure est au rattrapage
On observe présentement une couverture de glace de 46 % en moyenne, à travers les Grands Lacs. Par exemple, le lac Érié est désormais pratiquement entièrement couvert de glace. En date du 14 janvier dernier, le pourcentage de ces grandes étendues d’eau gelées était à 5 %. « C’est donc un très gros rattrapage qui a été fait, au cours des deux dernières semaines, avec le froid quand même imposant qui s’est mis de la partie », mentionne Kevin Cloutier, météorologue.
La présence ou l’absence de glace sur ces étendues d’eau peut avoir une grande influence sur les tendances hivernales de la Belle Province. Comment exactement?
Scénario un : lorsque les Grands Lacs ne sont pas gelés
Une telle situation peut avoir des effets sur l’intensité du froid qui visite le Québec. Lorsqu’une masse d’air froid provient de l’ouest canadien et passe au-dessus des Grands Lacs alors que ceux-ci sont libres de glace, les froids peuvent
What is the Digital Services Act (DSA)?
The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a European Union law that establishes a complete set of new obligations for online platforms to create a safer digital space for users adn basic rights online.It was adopted on October 4, 2022, and began to apply to all online platforms operating in the EU on February 17, 2024, with full application for all providers by February 17, 2025.
The DSA aims to address the spread of illegal content, disinformation, and harmful products online. it categorizes online services into different tiers – from basic online intermediaries like internet service providers to very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large online search engines (VLOSEs) – each with corresponding levels of responsibility. The law focuses on clarity, accountability, and user empowerment.
For example, VLOPs, those with over 45 million active users in the EU, face the most stringent requirements, including conducting risk assessments, implementing mitigation measures, and providing greater transparency regarding their algorithms and content moderation practices. European Commission – Digital Services act
Key Obligations Under the DSA
The DSA introduces a wide range of obligations for online intermediaries, categorized by their size and role. These obligations cover areas such as content moderation, transparency, user rights, and advertising.
- Illegal Content Removal: All online intermediaries must have mechanisms to allow users to flag illegal content and must act expeditiously to remove it once notified.
- Transparency Reporting: Platforms must publish regular reports on their content moderation activities, including the number of notices received and actions taken.
- User Rights: Users have the right to appeal content moderation decisions and to receive explanations for why their content was removed or restricted.
- Advertising Transparency: Platforms must provide users with details about why they are seeing specific advertisements, including the parameters used for targeting.
- Risk Assessments (VLOPs/VLOSEs): Very large platforms must assess and mitigate systemic risks, such as the spread of disinformation, negative effects on fundamental rights, and risks to democratic processes.
The DSA specifically prohibits certain practices, such as using deceptive interfaces (dark patterns) that manipulate users’ choices. European Parliament – The Digital Services Act: What you need to know
Enforcement and Penalties
The enforcement of the DSA is primarily the responsibility of the European Commission, with assistance from the Digital Services Coordinators in each EU member state. The Commission has the power to investigate potential violations and impose significant penalties.
Non-compliance with the DSA can result in fines of up to 6% of a platform’s global annual revenue. In cases of repeated serious infringements, the Commission can also order temporary bans on the platform’s services within the EU. The first fines under the DSA were issued in February 2024 against X (formerly Twitter) for failing to provide transparency data.
on February 26, 2024, the European Commission announced it had opened formal investigations into X, TikTok, and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) over potential breaches of the DSA related to the protection of minors and the spread of illegal content. European Commission – Press Release: Commission opens formal investigations against X, TikTok and Meta under the Digital Services Act
Impact on Online Platforms and Users
The DSA is expected to have a significant impact on how online platforms operate within the EU and on the experiences of users. Platforms are investing heavily in compliance efforts, including updating their content moderation policies, improving transparency reporting, and enhancing user control over their data.
for users,the DSA promises a safer and more transparent online environment. They will have greater control over the content they see, more information about why they are seeing it, and easier ways to report illegal content and challenge content moderation decisions. The law also aims to protect users from harmful products and deceptive practices.
A report by the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) in December 2023 highlighted the challenges platforms face in implementing the DSA’s risk assessment requirements, particularly regarding the identification and mitigation of systemic risks. European Digital Media observatory – DSA Risk Assessment Challenges
