“We can conduct various controlled experimental studies studying changes in the Arctic,” says Professor Feiyue Wang.
One consequence of the less icy Hudson Bay is a longer season for the port, which is now closed for nine months of the year. A longer season during which the bay thaws and becomes open water can mean more ships coming in and out of Churchill.
Research at the observatory is aimed at improving the accuracy of sea ice forecasting. The study will also examine the risks associated with port expansion. One of the first studies is an experimental oil spill. Scientists plan to release the oil into one of the basins, test cleanup methods and measure how quickly the oil breaks down in cold water.
For Churchill Mayor Mike Spence, understanding how to plan for the future, especially when it comes to getting goods to and from Churchill, is vital to the city’s future in a warming climate.
“We are already considering extending the season,” he says, pointing to the port, which has shut down for the winter. “Ten years from now it will be noisy.”
