JOINT ARCTIC WEATHER STATIONS FIVE YEAR REPORT 1946-1951 JOINT CANADIAN -UNITED STATES ARCTIC WEATHER STATION PROGRAMME A REVIEW OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF THE JOINT ARCTIC WEATHER STATIONS AT EUREKA, RESOLUTE, ISACHSEN, MOULD BAY, AND ALERT AND A SUMMARY OF THE SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES AT THESE STATIONS 1946-1951 Compiled by METEOROLOGICAL DIVISION - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT - CANADA and U.S. WEATHER BUREAU - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE – UNITED STATES CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE 1. Introduction 1 2. Establishment of Stations 8 Eureka 8 Resolute 10 Isachsen 12 Mould Bay 14 Alert 15 Reconnaissance of Bridport Inlet 16 3. Station Maintenance 20 4. Methods of Re-supply 27 Summer Sea Supply Mission 27 Problems of Ice Navigation 29 Airlift Operations 35 5. Personnel 37 6. Meteorological Programme 42 Surface Observations 42 Upper Air Observations 46 7. Special Scientific Projects by Weather Station Personnel 48 Low Level Air Temperature Measurements 48 Permafrost Drilling and Soil Temperature Measurements at Resolute 49 Tidal Observations 59 Ice Thickness Measurements 61 Sea Ice Reports 63 Ice and Sea Water Temperatures 75 Lake Water Temperatures at Resolute 76 Observations of Arctic Snow Characteristics 77 Snow Crystal Replicas 81 Arctic Test of U.S. Navy Model, TDM-l, Automatic Weather Station 82 Salinity of Sea Water 85 Atmospheric Refraction 86 Solar Radiation 87 8. Stations Established at Resolute in Addition to the Weather Station 89 --ii-- CHAPTER PAGE Resolute Magnetic Observatory 89 Resolute Seismograph Station 90 Resolute Ionospheric Station 91 9. Arctic Buildings 92 Foundations 92 Prefabricated Buildings 95 Experimental Hut at Alert, N.W.T. 99 10. Projects by Transient Scientific Personnel 100 Wildlife Survey of Slidre Fiord Area 101 National Museum of Canada Investigations 101 Geological Survey - Cornwallis Island 104 Northern Insect Survey Investigations 109 Northern Insect Survey at Resolute, N.W.T.-1949 110 Northern Insect Survey at Alert, N.W.T.-l95l 114 Geographical Investigations at Eureka, N.W.T. 125 11. Radio Communications 135 12. Evaluation and Recommendations 146 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION A basic requirement for progress in the science of meteorology is a thorough knowledge of circulation of the atmosphere over the world as a whole. In order to obtain this knowledge, weather reports are needed from a large number of stations, distributed at intervals across the earth. Prior to World War II, observations from the Canadian Arctic were very meagre. Some meteorological data were available from the records that were kept by expeditions that attempted to find the North West Passage. However, these observations were inadequate for accurate climatological work for the following reasons: the records rarely extended over a period longer than a year; observations in the different localities were usually made in different years and consequently, are not strictly comparable; many of the instrumental observations were made with instruments whose correction factors were unknown or unrecorded; the observations were nearly all made on shipboard or along the coasts with very few observations from the interiors of the islands. Additional information was obtained during the First Polar Year, from 1882-83 but this too provided short period records only. The first stations of a permanent nature in the Canadian Arctic Islands, at which meteorological observations were taken were those established by the R.C.M.P. in the 1920's such as Craig Harbour, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Bache Peninsula and Dundas Harbour. At about this same time, observations were also undertaken at some of the posts of the Hudson Bay Company, namely, Arctic Bay, Cambridge Bay, Clyde River, Coral Harbour, Fort Ross and Holman Island. The development of radio communications in the late 1920's brought about the establishment of stations at Nottingham Island, Cape Hope's Advance and Resolution Island by the Marine Radio to provide navigational aid to shipping in Hudson's Bay and Straits and to take meteorological observations as well. During World War II, stations were established on Baffin Island at Frobisher and Padloping Island by the U.S. Air Force, to provide weather information for aircraft ferrying operations across the North Atlantic. An emergency landing strip was maintained at Frobisher, also. In addition to the stations which had been established on the southern Arctic islands, a requirement still existed for a network of stations on the more northerly islands, to obtain not only meteorological information but other scientific observations such as magnetic and ionospheric observations, and to provide air navigational aids and emergency landing fields for flying operations in Arctic regions. --2-- . Initial Plans - Shortly after the close of World War II, Colonel Charles J. Hubbard began to arouse interest in the United States and Canada for the establishment of a network of Arctic stations. His plan, in broad perspective, envisaged the establishment of two main stations, one in Greenland and the other within the Archipelago, which could be reached by sea supply. These main stations would then serve as advance bases from which a number of smaller stations would be established by air. The immediate plans contemplated the establishment of weather stations only, but it was felt that a system of weather stations would also provide a nucleus of transportation, communications and settlements which would greatly aid programmes of research in many other fields of science. It was recognized that ultimate action would depend on international co-operation since the land masses involved were under Canadian and Danish control. Approval for the project as basically outlined was given by Congress in the United States under Public Law 296, 79th Congress, an excerpt from which is quoted below. "Concerning the establishment of meteorological observation stations in the Arctic region of the Western Hemisphere for the purpose of improving the weather forecasting service within the United States and on the civil international air transport routes from the United States. "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that in order to improve the weather forecasting service of the United States and to promote safety and efficiency in civil air navigation to the highest possible degree, the Chief of the Weather Bureau, under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce, shall, in addition to his other functions and duties, take such action as may be necessary in the development of an international basic meteorological reporting network in the Arctic region of the Western Hemisphere, including the establishment, operation, and maintenance of such reporting stations in co-operation with the State Department and other United States governmental departments and agencies, with the meteorological services of foreign countries and with persons engaged in air commerce. "Approved February 12, 1946" The basic project as outlined by Colonel Hubbard assumed a distribution of approximately ten stations at intervals of about five hundred miles between Banks Island and Peary Land. Two general locations were under consideration for the control depots, one in the vicinity of Winter Harbour on Melville Island and the other near Thule, Greenland. All the locations which were considered for the smaller stations were included within circles of five hundred mile radius, drawn with either Thule or Winter Harbour as centre. --3-- Previous experience had indicated that large aircraft could be landed on Arctic ice surfaces in winter, using wheels where the snow was light or skis where the snow was heavy. Since protected waters will generally freeze smooth, it was believed that suitable ice runways could be found within close proximity of almost any given Arctic coastal location. The plan of action required that surface ships would proceed to the central base locations during the summer months. The following winter, the stations would be built up and preparations made for spring activities, to establish the out-lying satellite stations by air when flying conditions in the Arctic are most favourable. The exact location of a satellite station would be determined by a preliminary reconnaissance by means of light aircraft equipped with skis. After the site was chosen and a suitable landing strip located on the ice, the station personnel and supplies would be flown in with heavy transport aircraft on wheels. It was planned that the re-supply of the main stations would be conducted annually by surface ships during the summer navigation season, and that the satellite stations would be re- supplied by air annually during the spring flying season. Mail deliveries were to be accomplished by means of air drop to the smaller stations whereas landings would be made at the main bases when possible. Medical advice was to be provided by radio with emergency evacuations by air if necessary. 1946 Operations - When approval for the Arctic project had been given by U.S. Congress, Canada was approached to work out a suitable basis of co-operation between Canada and the United States in the Arctic. A meeting of Canadian and United States representatives was held in Ottawa on May 18, 1946 to discuss United States proposals to establish weather stations in the Canadian Arctic. The United States representatives pointed out that it was desired to commence the project in the summer of 1946 with the establishment of two main bases, one in north-western Greenland and one in the central Canadian Arctic. These stations would carry out meteorological functions and act as supply points for smaller stations, which would be established later. The station to be built in Canada would, it was hoped, be established on Melville Island close to Winter Harbour. If Canadian approval was obtained, it was proposed to procure supplies and personnel immediately. The ships would be loaded and would sail not later than July 15. Aerial reconnaissance would be carried out in the Melville Island area, followed by similar reconnaissance of Banks Island, northwest Ellesmere Island, Prince Patrick Island and Axel Heiberg Island.