There are no roads to Churchill – a town in northern Canada on the shores of Hudson Bay. This remote outpost is known as the polar bear capital of the world. Polar bears have become something of an icon for those concerned that we have a climate crisis. Indeed Al Gore in his movie, An Inconvenient Truth, suggested polar bears are already suffering from global warming.
It is warming in Churchill. At least thermometer temperature data from both Environment Canada and NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) indicate that it has been warmer since 1998 – but the annual mean is still below zero!
[Click on the charts/graphs for a large/better view]
The Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) don’t collect any data as such rather they collate data from other sources. So, I’m curious that they haven’t included the last two years of data from Environment Canada.
I’m also curious to know why the GISS data for this site shows an annual average that is consistently warmer than the Environment Canada data. And why the data gaps? There is no GISS data for Churchill from 1994 to 1996 and also from 1911 to 1931? And why the step change in temperature since 1998 - I didn’t known the Arctic was influenced by El Nino events?
I have previously suggested that in the future, satellite data (as opposed to data compiled from thermometer-based weather stations), will be recognised as more reliable for understanding global temperature trends.
However, there will always be a need for quality data from specific sites.
Churchill appears to have the very earliest records for the Arctic – back to 1768. But again, why the discrepancy between GISS and Environment Canada data?
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The picture of the bear is from the US Fish and Wildlife Service with thanks.
The graph of Churchill Annual Mean Temperatures (1929-2007) based on Environment Canada data was drawn by Nichole Hoskin with data provided via Steve McIntyre – much thanks.
Click on the graphs/charts for a better view.
