After a long journey to Churchill and after many technical difficulties, I am now able to post.
We arrived on 10 July and were met at the airport by Dani, one of the field staff here at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. Churchill is located on the western shores of the Hudson Bay and is considered to be in the Sub-Arctic climate zone. Meaning it is located at the southern most extent of continuous permafrost and at the southern most limit of the continental treeline.
In other words, a good place to study climate change.
After a brief introduction and tour of the centre, we were outfitted with the gear we will need to work out in the field.
Part of our briefing was to ensure we understood the risks associated with data collection here in the Churchill area. Because of its location Churchill is popular over-summer spot for the Western Hudson Bay subpopulation of polar bears. Polar bears retreat to land in July and August when the northern ice flows melt. Therefore going outside of the centre alone is strictly forbidden. When scientists do venture out they are always accompanied by a bear guard.
That just about concluded our managed time here and for the rest of the first day we acclimated to the centre and
quickly found that internet services were spotty and unreliable. That said, please bear with me as I continue to blog and relay all the amazing research being done here at the CNSC.
We arrived on 10 July and were met at the airport by Dani, one of the field staff here at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. Churchill is located on the western shores of the Hudson Bay and is considered to be in the Sub-Arctic climate zone. Meaning it is located at the southern most extent of continuous permafrost and at the southern most limit of the continental treeline.
In other words, a good place to study climate change.
After a brief introduction and tour of the centre, we were outfitted with the gear we will need to work out in the field.
Part of our briefing was to ensure we understood the risks associated with data collection here in the Churchill area. Because of its location Churchill is popular over-summer spot for the Western Hudson Bay subpopulation of polar bears. Polar bears retreat to land in July and August when the northern ice flows melt. Therefore going outside of the centre alone is strictly forbidden. When scientists do venture out they are always accompanied by a bear guard.
That just about concluded our managed time here and for the rest of the first day we acclimated to the centre and
quickly found that internet services were spotty and unreliable. That said, please bear with me as I continue to blog and relay all the amazing research being done here at the CNSC.