An Update on the Ice Climatology of the Hudson Bay System

Abstract

This paper focuses on recent changes in interannual sea ice extent (SIE) and ice freeze-up/ice breakup dates within the subarctic region of eastern Canada, including Hudson Bay, Foxe Basin, and Hudson Strait, from 1980 to 2010. Changes in sea ice are examined as a function of dynamic and thermodynamic forcing. Strong negative trends in SIE are a relatively recent phenomenon within the satellite record. Prior to the mid-1990s, much of eastern Canada, including Baffin Bay/Davis Strait and the Labrador Sea, showed a slight positive trend in SIE (2.0 × 10 4 km 2 year-1), and the Hudson Bay region showed similar positive trends in SIE (Parkinson and Cavalieri, 1989; Deser and Teng, 2008). Positive trends in ice breakup date (later breakup) based on Canadian Ice Service (CIS) data (1971-1989) were also noted by Galbraith and Larouche (2011): +2.3 days decade-1 for Hudson Strait, 2.0 days decade-1 for Hudson Bay, and a weak negative trend (-0.9 days decade-1) for Foxe Basin.

Climate change and sea ice: Shipping accessibility on the marine transportation corridor through Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait (1980–2014)

“…In the waters of Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait, climate change appears to be driving a trend towards longer ice-free periods during the summer and fall (Hochheim and Barber, 2014;Kowal et al, 2015). Sea ice is a defining element of the environment and culture of the Bay and Strait (e.g.…”

“…Figure 1 shows Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait and the course of the shipping corridor to the Port of Churchill. Articles in the scientific literature (e.g., Hochheim and Barber, 2014;Kowal et al, 2015) tend to define the border between the Bay and Strait as a line running north from the northwestern tip of mainland Quebec to the southwestern tip of Baffin Island. According to that definition the entire shipping corridor to the Port of Churchill is contained within the Bay and Strait.…”

“…Elem Sci Anth, 5: 15, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.130 Introduction A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that climate change is having a significant impact on sea ice conditions throughout the Canadian Arctic (Comiso, 2012;Vaughan et al, 2013). In the waters of Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait, climate change appears to be driving a trend towards longer ice-free periods during the summer and fall (Hochheim and Barber, 2014;Kowal et al, 2015). Sea ice is a defining element of the environment and culture of the Bay and Strait (e.g.…”

“…One facet of this change is the potential growth in the shipping industry of the area, as lengthening ice-free periods enable longer shipping seasons (Pizzolato et al, 2014). This paper focuses on a scientific examination of sea ice timing along the shipping corridor through Articles in the scientific literature (e.g., Hochheim and Barber, 2014;Kowal et al, 2015) tend to define the border between the Bay and Strait as a line running north from the northwestern tip of mainland Quebec to the southwestern tip of Baffin Island. According to that definition the entire shipping corridor to the Port of Churchill is contained within the Bay and Strait.…”

Spatial, Environmental, and Biotic Determinants of Zooplankton Community Composition in Subarctic Lakes and Ponds in Wapusk National Park, Canada

“…The concentration, extent, and duration of sea-ice cover on Hudson Bay have decreased significantly over the past three decades (Gough et al, 2004;Hochheim et al, 2011;Hochheim and Barber, 2014), resulting in a positive feedback cycle that has accelerated warming over land surfaces (Hochheim and Barber, 2010). While there is little evidence that warmer temperatures have thus far impacted permafrost extent in the HBL, likely because of thermal lags between changes in air temperature and ground ice conditions (Gough and Leung, 2002; but see Wolfe et al, 2011), there are several examples of recent biological changes within aquatic ecosystems in the region.…”