Canada day was just a few weeks ago and part of the festivities is the annual Hudson Bay dip took place in Churchill. The dip is an outpouring of community fun and bravery to enter the 40 degree F water. The year I took part there was still ice floating near shore and the water was exceptionally cold. Extremities become numb almost immediately but the thrill is worth the pain! Enjoy the fun from this 2013 footage!
Polar bear on sea ice in the Arctic. Nasa photo.
The Arctic summer of 2013 was a cool one. So much so that the trend of decreasing sea ice has regained it’s recent losses by at least one third over the last few years. Because of the cool summer that year, more multi – year ice was left at the end of the summer.
Despite the encouraging news, scientists cautiously warn the news is an anomaly and climate change related to warming is still very real.
“It would suggest that sea is more resilient perhaps if you get one year of cooler temperature. We’ve almost wound the clock back a few years on this gradual decline that’s been happening over decades,” lead author Rachel Tilling told BBC News. “The long-term trend of the ice volume is downwards and the long-term trend of the temperatures in the Arctic is upwards and this finding doesn’t give us any reason to disbelieve that. As far as we can tell, it’s just one anomalous year.”
President Obama will visit Anchorage, Alaska on August 31 to address the state departments GLACIER conference. Foreign ministers from Arctic nations as well as non – Arctic states will attend as well as scientists, policy makers and stakeholders from the Arctic and Alaska will also attend.
The conference goal is to increase global awareness of how Arctic climate change is a harbinger for warming affects in the rest of the world.
Churchill is getting into full Arctic summer swing and the region is opening up and sharing the treasures of the short season of vibrant life. Beluga whales, wildflowers, incredible bird-life and the mystery of the tundra all complete a picture of vibrant life that burns brightly for just about three months. Even polar bears join the party as the summer rolls on. Summer is a very different season then the dynamic fall polar bear season or the winter northern lights season in February and March. The summer is certainly the jewel of the Arctic!
Fireweed is prevalent in Churchill. Steve Selden photo.
Beluga whales in the Churchill River. Sea north Tours photo.
Lesser yellowlegs. Rhonda Reid photo.
Polar bears nestled in the Pre cambrian sheild. Steve Selden photo.
Kayakers surrounded by beluga whales in the hudson Bay. Sea North Tours photo.
Check out this cool photo by Churchill local Rhonda Reid! The blues, grays and whites are what makes Churchill Arctic summer one of the best seasons anywhere on Earth!
Sublime Churchill. Rhonda Reid photo.
This amazing 3 am sunrise shot of the Hudson Bay break – up by Alex de Vries – Magnifico needs few words to describe! Sunrises in Churchill this time of year are off the charts.
Sunset over the Hudson Bay. Alex de Vries – Magnifico photo.
