Climate of two locations on the Southwestern corner of Hudson Bay: AD 1720–1729

• Published in: International Journal of Climatology
• Main Author: Ball, Timothy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1994
• Subjects: Hudson; Hudson Bay; York Factory
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.3370141006; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjoc.3370141006; https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/joc.3370141006

Abstract Lack of historic climate data is a severe limit to advancing understanding of climate and improving general circulation models. Diaries maintained by the Hudson's Bay Company at Churchill and York Factory on Hudson Bay are analysed to determine a synoptic climate for the decade 1720–1729, a critical decade within the Little Ice Age. Subjective data are converted by a coding system to objective numerical data for computer analysis. Instrumental temperatures were not available this early, however, wind direction, number of days with precipitation events including rain, snow, freezing rain, and hail were recorded. In addition, first day of rain in spring, snow in autumn and number of days with thunder are analysed. Weather conditions during the decade are presented for other parts of the world. Results show similarities with these climate records. Overall the conditions reflect Little Ice Age conditions. The first pentad is markedly different than the second, which has greater variation in all variables. This pattern parallels sunspot activity. The decade has a meridional pattern, however, this is more pronounced in the second pentad.