Inventory of weather and climate related information extracted from the Hudson’s Bay Company post journals of Stupart Bay (Kangiqsujuaq) and Port Burwell (Killiniq)
Abstract
Information related to weather, climate, sea-ice and environmental conditions were compiled from two Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) post journals. Daily information is available. Temperature, wind, cloudiness, precipitations, description of sea-ice, migration birds and other exceptional events were extracted from the post journals. Original documents were digitalized and are available in the Archives of Manitoba (Stupart Bay = B.484; Port Burwell = B.466). Stupart Bay post, now Kangiqsujuaq, was in operation from 1914 to 1940. Port Burwell post, now Killiniq, was in operation from 1920 to 1939. Several HBC employees contributed to the post journals writing. They were following a method established by the institution which ensured a uniformity in the observations. No information was found regarding the specific layout of the meteorological instruments at the Stupart Bay and Port Burwell posts. However, Ball (1994) described the observation material from an other HBC post. A picture from the Robert Bell collection showed a wind gauge and a weather vane located at about 1.5 m on a building roof at Stupart Bay post (Library and Archives Canada C-086377).
Ball T (1994) Climate of two locations on the Southwestern corner of Hudson Bay: AD 1720–1729. International Journal of Climatology 14(10):1151–1168. https:// doi.org/10.1002/joc.3370141006.
Data citation
Ouellet-Bernier, M.M., Brassard, L., Bhiry, N. 2024. Inventory of weather and climate related information extracted from the Hudson’s Bay Company post journals of Stupart Bay (Kangiqsujuaq) and Port Burwell (Killiniq), v. 1.0. Nordicana D130, doi: 10.5885/45891CE-3298B5E1B99C4415.
Location map
Key references
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Ouellet-Bernier, M-M, Bhiry, N, Brassard, L (2023). Historical temperature and wind conditions in the Hudson Strait region from 1880 to 1950: Kangiqsujuaq, Quaqtaq, and Killiniq. Clim Change, 176(6), 74.
DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s10584-023-03552-x - Ouellet-Bernier, M-M, Bhiry, N, Brassard, L. (2024). Land-fast ice freeze-up and break-up in the Hudson Strait (Canada) from 1880 to 1950: Determining the role of temperature and wind. Quaternary Science Reviews (en révision)
Acknowledgements
Funded by a Postdoctoral research scholarship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec—Nature et Technologies (FRQNT), by the Sentinel North program of Université Laval (Canada First research excellence fund, NSERC), and by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Version history
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Version 1.0 (1914–1940)Updated February 12, 2024
You can request an older version by contacting nordicana@cen.ulaval.ca
Measurement sites
Supplementary material
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Data available for download are in ZIP format. Please properly cite the data when using it.
Weather and climate information Kangiqsujuaq Get file
Sites
Data
Temperature appreciation
11/1914 – 07/1940
Weather appreciation
11/1914 – 07/1940
Temperature (F)
11/1914 – 07/1940
Wind strength
11/1914 – 07/1940
Wind direction
11/1914 – 07/1940
Visibility
11/1914 – 07/1940
Precipitations
11/1914 – 07/1940
Fog, hail, rime
11/1914 – 07/1940
Change in visibility
11/1914 – 07/1940
Wind direction change
11/1914 – 07/1940
Thunder, lightning, snow melt or accumulation
11/1914 – 07/1940
Comments on climate, ice, sea
11/1914 – 07/1940
Time of observation
11/1914 – 07/1940
Other wind observations
11/1914 – 07/1940
Date
11/1914 – 07/1940
Weather and climate information Killiniq Get file
Sites
Data
Temperature appreciation
09/1920 – 06/1939
Weather appreciation
09/1920 – 06/1939
Temperature (F)
09/1920 – 06/1939
Wind strength
09/1920 – 06/1939
Wind direction
09/1920 – 06/1939
Visibility
09/1920 – 06/1939
Precipitations
09/1920 – 06/1939
Fog, hail, rime
09/1920 – 06/1939
Change in visibility
09/1920 – 06/1939
Wind direction change
09/1920 – 06/1939
Thunder, lightning, snow melt or accumulation
09/1920 – 06/1939
Comments on climate, ice, sea
09/1920 – 06/1939
Time of observation
09/1920 – 06/1939
Other wind observations
09/1920 – 06/1939
Date
09/1920 – 06/1939