Churchill Climate Reference CryoNet Station Information
The instument compound is located approximately 100 metres to the NNW of the Upper-air station. The instruments have good exposure in all directions. The area in and around the compound is gravel with little topsoil and some tundra type vegetation. The surrounding terrain is generally muskeg with numerous lakes and streams, frequent rock outcrops and sporadic small tree growth. Hudson Bay lies 4 kilometres to the north. The Churchill River, up to 5 kilometres wide, is 8 kilometres to the west. The town of Churchill is 8 kilometres WNW of the station. The instrument compound is situated on a plateau along the main runway on the SW edge of the airport complex. The west edge of the plateau is approximately 25 metres above the surrounding terrain. This increase in elevation occurs over a distance of 300 metres. On a larger scale, the land slopes upward to the west and south with Hudson Bay extending hundreds of kilometres to the north and east.
Other Networks to Which This CryoNet Station Belongs
GSN - GCOS Surface Network
RBCN - Regional Basic Climatological Network
RBSN - Regional Basic Synoptic Network
Measurement Methods Used
WMO Technical Regulations
CIMO
Data Information
Are the data quality controlled? yes
How are the data accessible? HTTP (web), an existing data center
Data availability (may depend on the variable measured): in near real-time
Measurements
The measurements made at Churchill Climate are listed in the following tables. (Note: If End Year is blank, measurements are ongoing.)
Cryosphere Measurements
Element
Variable
Start Year
End Year
Frequency
Snow
Depth
1955
Continuous
Snow
Snow water equivalent
TBD
Fragmented
Snow
Snowpack profile
TBD
Fragmented
Seaice
Thickness
1960
1987
Continuous
Atmosphere Measurements
Element
Variable
Start Year
End Year
Frequency
Met
Air temperature
1943
Continuous
Met
Humidity/vapour pressure
1943
Continuous
Met
Wind speed and direction
1943
Continuous
Met
Air pressure
1943
Continuous
Met
Total precipitation
1943
Continuous
Radiation
Downwelling shortwave
1964
Continuous
Measurement Notes and Other Measurements
Category
Description or List
Snow
ECCC MSC Branch (Radar and Upper Air Division) facilitates a bimonthly ten-point snow survey that measures snow depth, water equivalent and density. Data is fragmented from 2003-2015 with no accessible archive.
Atmosphere
Data is delivered to WMO via GTS from CWAO (Dorval) and also made available to the general public at http://dd.weather.gc.ca/observations/ (products) and http://dd.weather.gc.ca/bulletins/ (raw bulletins) and Met-ML http://dd.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/observations/swob-ml/
ECCC S&T Branch has a greenhouse gas monitoring station operated by the Climate Research Division with data available through the GAW World Data Centers.
ECCC S&T Branch has an UV monitoring station operated by the Air Quality Research Division with data available through the GAW World Data Centers.
Hydrology
National Hydrometric Program had near-by non-active stations that monitored flow and water level. Data available through WMO Arctic Hycos portal.
Other
ECCC MSC Branch (Radar and Upper Air Division)performs aerological soundings twice daily via radiosonde. Continuous pressure, temperature and humidity data (up to 30+km) are available from 1950 to present courtesy of NOAA at: https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/raobs/
