Climate Change in the Hudson Bay Complex: Opportunities and Vulnerabilities for the Port of Churchill's Marine Operations
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Date
2016-02
Authors
Andrews, J.
Babb, D.
McKernan, M.
Horton, B.
Barber, D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Manitoba, Centre for Earth Observation Science
Abstract
This climate-impact assessment was completed by researchers at the University of Manitoba’s
Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) with financial support from Transport Canada.
This work is one component of a broader CEOS-Transport Canada partnership running from
2014-2016, which is a product of Transport Canada’s Network of EXpertise on Transportation in
Arctic Waters (NEXTAW) program. NEXTAW is part of Transport Canada’s Northern
Transportation Adaptation Initiative.
The motivation for this project at CEOS and Transport Canada stems from an awareness of the
significant environmental changes occurring in the Canadian Arctic and a shared desire to better
understand these changes and the impact they may have on marine transportation in the area.
This assessment examines the impact of climate change in Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, and Foxe
Basin, and considers the resultant vulnerabilities and opportunities for the Port of Churchill’s
marine operations extending to 2030 and 2050. Changes in sea ice and their consequences for
shipping routes are of particular interest. The Port of Churchill’s land-based infrastructure and
operations are not examined in this assessment.
This document’s primary audience is those parties with a vested interested in marine
transportation in the Hudson Bay Complex. This includes the Port of Churchill’s central
stakeholders, such as OmniTRAX Canada, Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, and
Transport Canada, as well as community and industry members from around the Complex. More
generally, it is our intention that this document will be useful to all those interested in the
intersection between Climate Change and marine transportation in the Canadian Arctic.
Description
Keywords
Climate Change, Port of Churchill, Arctic Transportation, Sea Ice