Nunavut’s capital Iqaluit experienced a mysterious reddish glow this past Tuesday that many residents had never seen. The phenomena was not a martian scan of Earth’s northern Arctic region in an effort to research our current global warming trend. However, as with other lighting occurrences in the far north, light reacting with dust and ice particles in the atmosphere causes some pretty unique effects. This one was pretty cool.
The photo with the red glow on the right was taken mid – afternoon on Tuesday and the image on the left was taken about the same time the following day, Wednesday. Nick Murray/CBC photo.
CBC North meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler described the glow as a result of sunlight scattering and intensifying because of the time of day the photo was taken. These photos were taken at sunset when the sun is lower in the sky.”When the sun is at a low angle in the sky, the light has a longer distance to travel,” said Brauweiler. “The blue [coloration, which leads to a more common ‘blue sky’] gets removed by the ice crystals and salt in the air, which leaves red visible.”
“The clouds are much larger than light waves, which allows them to take on the color, in this case pink.”
The phenomena is a fairly rare sight…but a amazing one for sure!
Incredibly magical drone video of beluga whales in Nunavut’s Cunningham Inlet by twenty-four-year-old Arctic tour guide Nansen Weber. Over 2,000 beluga whales gather in this area near Resolute in the high Arctic. Churchill has nearly the same amount of beluga whales migrate to its estuaries in the Arctic summer. What a way to get a different perspective!
A couple more photos from Nunavut photographer Michael Davies. He captures some of the most incredible northern lights images I’ve ever seen. These two phenomenal shots of Pangirtung on Baffin Island, population 1,400, look like the town is on fire. With the aurora borealis glimmering in the sky, there seems to be an incredible energy in a most barren and isolated place. It really inspires me to visit this realm of the Arctic. Might be a side trip from Churchill someday!
About a week ago I re-posted this photo from Michael Davies in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. He and his friend, Markus Siivola, journeyed about 45 minutes by snow machine to mountains outside of town to capture the image. Considerable thought went into the composition and environmental factors beforehand. Davies knew he needed at least minus 40 degrees for the tea to freeze mid – air, little or no wind and a sunset behind to highlight the tea and subject. All three factors contributed to an amazing shot that became an internet sensation spread all over social media during the holidays.
The pair filled six thermoses with hot water at different levels to experiment and see which worked best for the shot.
“In each one we threw in a tea bag because we thought, if this doesn’t work, at least we can have a tea, because, as everybody knows, in Nunavut we go to great lengths to have tea somewhere strange, whether it’s in front of an iceberg, or on top of a mountain or in the middle of the tundra.” stated Davies.
The one seen was the second shot which Davies wasn’t sure about at first. After posting on the web the popularity proved this one was the golden shot.
Hot tea freezing mid air in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. Michael Davies photo.
Churchill has polar bear alert to protect residents and tourists from harm. Grise Fiord, Nunavut’s northernmost community with a population of 148, may soon have muskoxen alert for the same reason! Two muskoxen have been seen along the coast and another has been a hindrance near the airport runway.
Grise Fiord’s population of 148 is the smallest community in Nunavut. located on the southeast coast of Ellesmere island it is also the most remote. Government of Nunavut image.
Grise Fiord mayor Meeka Kigutak says the muskoxen are likely on a natural migration path though are very territorial. There’s a chance they will move away from the town on their own but are fair game for residents if they come closer and linger. “The wildlife office has advised us that anyone in our community can catch the two muskox.”, Kigutak says.
Muskoxen on the coast at Grise Fiord. Joanne Dignard photo.
Kigutak says the community of Grise Fiord is already a little on edge following the apparent tracking of a local woman by a polar bear last winter. Over a decade ago a child teasing a muskoxen was injured when the animal charged him. Muskoxen have sharp tusks and become aggressive when cornered or threatened. No incidents have been reported since.
Muskoxen blending with the rocky coast in Grise Fiord. Joanne Dignard photo.
