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It's official the winter 2011-12 was one of the warmest onEnvironment Canada's books shattering records across much of thecountry. The winter-that-wasn't was most pronounced on the Prairies, whichhad the driest winter on record, with 56 per cent less snow andrain than normal and temperatures more than 6 C higher than normal,according to Environment Canada. The winter fits with a pronounced warming trend, according to thedepartment's climate trackers, who note that Canada's averagewinter temperatures have been at or above normal since 1997. They report that the national average temperature for the winter2011-12 was 3.6 C above normal, the third warmest since nationwiderecords began in 1948. "Virtually all of the country was above normal, with most ofthe prairie provinces experiencing temperatures more than 6 degreesabove normal," Environment Canada's climate science team saysin its winter bulletin posted online Monday. Small areas of theBritish Columbia and Labrador coasts and northern Nunavut had theclosest to normal temperatures. Nine of Canada's 11 regions had one of their 10-warmest winters.The Prairies (second warmest, 6.3 C above normal); NorthwesternForest (second warmest, 6.0 C above normal); Great Lakes/St.Lawrence (second warmest, 4.0 C above normal); Mackenzie District(third warmest, 5.5 C above normal); Northeastern Forest (sixthwarmest, 3.0 C above normal); North B.C. Mountains/Yukon (seventhwarmest, 4.7 C above normal); South B.C. Mountains (ninth warmest,2.7 C above normal); Arctic Tundra (ninth warmest, 2.5 C abovenormal); and Atlantic Canada (10th warmest, 2.3 C above normal). The bulletin includes a graph showing Canada's winters have warmedover the last 65 years by 3.2 C the Mackenzie District in thewestern Arctic has been most affected with a warming trend of 4.9 Cover the 65-year record. Atlantic Canada shows the smallest warming just 0.5 C over 65 years. Winter 2011-12 was also unusually dry, with 18 per cent lessprecipitation than normal. That made it the second driest in the 65years of record, second only to the winter of 1956-57. The Prairies, northern Northwest Territories and northern Quebecwere at least 40 per cent drier than normal in the case of thePrairies the driest on record at 56 per cent below normal. Only the Pacific coast was soggier than usual, with two per centmore rain and snow than normal. Environment Canada also posted the climate trend bulletin for lastyear on Monday. It says the national average temperature in 2011was 1.5 C above normal, the eighth-warmest year since records beganin 1948. Most of Canada was above normal with much of Nunavut atleast 2 C above normal. Canada was also drier than usual last year,with five per cent less precipitation than normal. Some commentators and politicians, such as Alberta Wildrose leaderDanielle Smith, say they are not convinced humans are contributingto the warming trend, but Environment Canada climate sciencedivision says the "international scientific community hasdetermined that recent changes in many aspects of global climatehave been primarily caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases inthe atmosphere, and that human activities are a major source ofthese gases." It notes that "in Canada, we are already seeing risingtemperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and increases in certaintypes of hazardous weather, such as heat waves. In the Arctic,rising temperatures are thawing permafrost and shrinking theocean's ice cover." Twitter.com/margaretmunro. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Titanium Foil Sheet Manufacturer , China Titanium Pipe Fittings for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Titanium Rod Bar.
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