Churchill
Churchill - Biophysical Processes
Latitude and climate
The latitude of Churchill is significant because it impacts the climate, and so, the plant and animal communities in the region. Being just south of the Arctic Circle it experiences a Continental Subarctic climate. Mean monthly temperatures are below zero for six to eight months and on average 50-90 days in a year are frost free. Winters tend to be long and bitterly cold, while summers are short and mild. These climatic conditions are integral to providing the conditions suitable for polar bears, belugas and arctic foxes, etc.
For more detail about Churchill's climate see the Weatherbase website.
Bedrock and soils
Churchill is built on an outcrop of Proterozoic sedimentary bedrock of subgreywacke and conglomerates. Subgreywacke is a dark-coloured sedimentary rock with grains 0.06-2 mm in diameter containing free quartz, a low mud content and high carbonate content. The wider Churchill province contains sedimentary, metamorphic and volcanic rock. Glaciation, marine inundation and weathering have covered these bedrocks with gravel, silt, boulders, sand, clay, and organic materials.
Soil properties and vegetation
Close to the Hudson Bay Coast, salt marshes and mangroves are found, but soil properties are different as you move further inland. Tundra vegetation, bogs and boreal forests are supported by better developed soils inland. Permafrost is widespread and the region also contains ice-related coastal features as a result of sea ice.
Hydrology
Churchill is located at the mouth of the Churchill River where it feeds into Hudson Bay. The Churchill River flows 487km east to west from Saskatchewan, through Manitoba to where it drains into the Hudson Bay. The river is made up of a large number of lakes joined together by rapids and waterfalls. Hudson Bay completely freezes over in winter. The river is located within a drainage basin called the Canadian Shield. Both sea ice and river water contribute to the region's freshwater budget.
Food chains and food webs
Churchill is in close proximity to Wapusk National Park and Caribou River National Park. Organisms found in this area include polar bears, beluga whales, and more than 270 bird species including the snowy owl, gyrfalcon and ptarmigan.
The latitude of Churchill is significant because it impacts the climate, and so, the plant and animal communities in the region. Being just south of the Arctic Circle it experiences a Continental Subarctic climate. Mean monthly temperatures are below zero for six to eight months and on average 50-90 days in a year are frost free. Winters tend to be long and bitterly cold, while summers are short and mild. These climatic conditions are integral to providing the conditions suitable for polar bears, belugas and arctic foxes, etc.
For more detail about Churchill's climate see the Weatherbase website.
Bedrock and soils
Churchill is built on an outcrop of Proterozoic sedimentary bedrock of subgreywacke and conglomerates. Subgreywacke is a dark-coloured sedimentary rock with grains 0.06-2 mm in diameter containing free quartz, a low mud content and high carbonate content. The wider Churchill province contains sedimentary, metamorphic and volcanic rock. Glaciation, marine inundation and weathering have covered these bedrocks with gravel, silt, boulders, sand, clay, and organic materials.
Soil properties and vegetation
Close to the Hudson Bay Coast, salt marshes and mangroves are found, but soil properties are different as you move further inland. Tundra vegetation, bogs and boreal forests are supported by better developed soils inland. Permafrost is widespread and the region also contains ice-related coastal features as a result of sea ice.
Hydrology
Churchill is located at the mouth of the Churchill River where it feeds into Hudson Bay. The Churchill River flows 487km east to west from Saskatchewan, through Manitoba to where it drains into the Hudson Bay. The river is made up of a large number of lakes joined together by rapids and waterfalls. Hudson Bay completely freezes over in winter. The river is located within a drainage basin called the Canadian Shield. Both sea ice and river water contribute to the region's freshwater budget.
Food chains and food webs
Churchill is in close proximity to Wapusk National Park and Caribou River National Park. Organisms found in this area include polar bears, beluga whales, and more than 270 bird species including the snowy owl, gyrfalcon and ptarmigan.
Churchill - Change
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Climate change
Climate change is resulting in a milder, shorter winter season and longer, warmer summers. Average yearly arctic temperatures are increasing. The shrubs are growing taller on the tundra and the surface temperature of water in Hudson Bay has increased by 3 degrees in the past 20 years. Climate change is likely to change migratory patterns, population numbers and physical characteristics of species. The reduction in the thickness of sea ice, is making it difficult for polar bears to hunt for their primary dietary staple seals. In turn, this is changing polar bear feeding patterns, migration paths and many are experiencing a reduction in body weight. Bears are staying on shore longer to wait for the ice to form. Migratory birds are changing their movement patterns. Thawing permafrost Increased temperatures are resulting in sea ice melts and reduced ice cover on Hudson Bay. Permafrost melts are likely to result in increased decomposition and microbiotic activity and release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. Tourism Tourism in and around Churchill focuses on polar bears, beluga whales, nature photography and the Aurora Borealis. While activities are intended to minimise human impacts on wildlife, the actions of individuals are difficult to predict and control. Some passengers, in trying to attract the attention of bears for better photographs may bang on the side of the tundra buggy, hiss or whistle to encourage the bear to move. Bears are exposed to the tundra vehicles from around 9am to 3pm each day. In periods where there are low polar bear numbers, multiple vehicles will crowd around the one bear or family of bears. In attempts to ensure polar bear viewing tundra buggies may use any tracks or trails that are available rather than using the roads designed for the purpose. This could result in erosion of tracks or destruction of vegetation. |
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Lesson Activity - Infographic
Create your own infographic using Canva, Picktochart or a similar program. Your infographic should be on the topic of the causes and consequences of environmental change in arctic or sub-arctic tundra environments.. It could include themes such as climate change, natural resource use, human settlement, tourism, pollution, etc.
Tools: Churchill Climate Graph
A climate graph is a graph which shows the annual rainfall and temperature at a particular location. The rainfall (or precipitation) is indicated by a blue bar for each month.
The temperature is indicated by a line on the graph showing the temperature for each month. This line is red.
The months of the year are on the bottom axis of the graph. Temperature is usually on the right axis and rainfall is usually on the left axis.
Download the handout and complete the climate graph for Churchill, Manitoba
The temperature is indicated by a line on the graph showing the temperature for each month. This line is red.
The months of the year are on the bottom axis of the graph. Temperature is usually on the right axis and rainfall is usually on the left axis.
Download the handout and complete the climate graph for Churchill, Manitoba
| churchill_-_climate_graph.png |
Churchill - Analysing maps and photographs
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Aerial photographs
Examine the following aerial photographs of Churchill: Aerial photograph 1 Aerial photograph 2 Aerial photograph 3 For each photograph determine: - whether it is vertical aerial photograph or oblique aerial photograph. - what direction the photograph was taken (you will need to look at both the aerial photograph and a map of the town). Tourist maps Examine a tourist map of Churchill by clicking Churchill Tourist Map. Describe the distribution of tourist activities and accommodation in the town of Churchill. Atlases Examine a map of Canada in your atlas. Determine the direction and distance from: - Vancouver to Winnipeg - Winnipeg to Churchill - Cape Churchill to Fort Severn - Churchill to Rankin Inlet - Gillam to Churchill - Lynn Lake to Churchill - Chesterfield Inlet to Churchill Determine the latitude and longitude of each site. |
Tundra Connections
Polar Bears International runs a program called Tundra Connections webcasts, where scientists and people working in the field connect with classrooms globally to present information and answer questions.
Check out:
Tundra Connections
View archived Tundra Connections.
Check out:
Tundra Connections
View archived Tundra Connections.
