The rate of climate change today is more rapid than in the recent past. Temperature records indicate the Earth has warmed over the past 100 years, with the 10 warmest years on record occurring since 1980.

Global temperature change: 1860-1999 (Environment Canada, 1999a)

Global ground surface temperature change: 1500-2000 (Huang et al., 2000)

Borehole records indicate that ground surface temperature is warming. In the North, increased ground temperatures may drastically affect permafrost.

Over the last 100 years Canada's climate has been changing, with the most significant changes occuring in the last few decades. These changes however vary across the country by region, as well as by season.

Canadian temperature change, Frequency of intense winter storms in the northern hemisphere (Environment Canada, 1999a)

The northern hemisphere is experiencing a rise in the number of extreme storm events that occur each year.

Climate change varies significantly within the Canadian North. The west has been warming, with the greatest temperature increases occurring in the winter and spring. The east however, has experienced a general cooling trend, with greatest temperature decreases occurring during the winter and spring.

News North - July 24, 2000
It's So Wet...
"When my grandfather was growing up, the elders could predict the weather, but now things change all the time." - Iqaluit

For southern Nunavut, the winter of 2000 was warmer. However, northern areas and areas along the eastern Arctic Islands were cooler.

Winter 2000: temperature change from normal (Environment Canada, 2000)

Did you know?
Nunatsiaq News - June 2, 2000
Inuit Elders Say the Arctic Climate is Changing

For most of Canada, the winter of 2000 was drier than normal. In Nunavut, however, conditions were actually wetter.

Winter 2000: temperature change from normal (Environment Canada, 2000)

Summer sea ice conditions vary from year to year. In 1998, the warmest year in Canada since 1951, sea ice extent for the Arctic Islands was a record minimum.

Total concentration for September 28, 1998 (Canadian Ice Service)