The quantity and duration of the coast around the island of Prince Eduardo has changed in recent years, and researchers say that the shortest seasons are a concern because the ice provides a protective shield against winter storms and erosion.
The last two winters saw lighter ice conditions than historical normal levels. This winter, the ice was thicker, but it was not formed until February, almost six weeks after what it used to do.
“The last five years in particular have been very low on sea ice around Prince Eduardo’s island … that is definitely unusual compared to our historical record,” said Genevieve Keefe, a doctorate candidate at the School of Climate Change and Adaptation of UPEI.
Keefe studies coastal erosion and sea ice. She said that Pei’s ice season has decreased between 10 and 15 weeks to an average of only nine weeks in recent years.
“One thing that worries us is coastal erosion,” Keefe said. “Sea ice provides a kind of barrier to wind and waves during winter.
If we do not have sea ice during the winter, our coast is essentially exposed for three additional months during the year.– Genevieve Keefe, UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation
“Every time we have winter storms that enter, that type of sea ice can protect the coast of that wind and greets if it is there during the winter. But if we do not have any sea ice during the winter, our coast is essentially exposed for three additional months during the year.”
‘Thermal blanket’
Parks Canada is also closely monitoring the changing ice conditions along the north coast of Pei, where the coast has suffered winter storms.
“In the last winters, we have noticed a decreasing trend in the formation of ice near the coast inside the park,” said Lindsey Burke. “We are beginning to notice that it is being formed later in the season and we don’t last so long during the winter season.”
Burke said the ice plays an important role along the coast in several ways.
“It forms a protective barrier for the dunes ecosystem, but also acts as almost like a thermal blanket for the intertidal or the coast of our beaches,” he said. “The sand under the ice foot is actually a little warmer than elsewhere.
Then there is the impact on living creatures.
“We have invertebrate or insect communities that live in that intertidal zone that are an important food source, particularly for our coastal birds that will emigrate back to the beaches to our area soon. And they need their energy … restored after such a long migration.”
Warmer air and water
A marine ice specialist with a environment and climate change from Canada says that Pei’s ice season is now on average of six to eight weeks shorter than it used to be.
George Karaganis said that the warmer air temperatures and the highest temperatures of the water have delayed the start of the ice season in approximately three weeks, which means more risk to the coast.
“It’s exhibition because ice is not there. It is delayed a month, month and a half,” Karaganis said.
“Then the intensity of the waves is stronger due to the intensification of the storm caused by the warmest waters.”
Karaganis said this February was cold, and during that month, the amount of ice was almost normal. But because he formed so late, he also melted before.
He said he hopes this is the new normality.
My intestinal reaction, if you had asked me this question four or five years ago, would be the things that would tend to average. But not.– George Karaganis, Environment and Climate Change Canada
“My intestinal reaction, if you had asked me this question four or five years ago, would be the things that would tend to average. But no … the surface temperatures of the sea just by themselves, without talking about ice, they have been hot,” Karaganis said.
“They have been constantly warmer during the last four or five, six years.”
The ice that forms around the coast of Prince Eduardo island has changed in recent winters. The last two years had lighter ice conditions than historical norms. The ice was thicker this winter, but it was not formed until February, almost six weeks after what it used to do. Researchers say ICE provides a protective shield against winter storms and erosion, so a shorter season is a concern. Nancy Russell of CBC and drones pilot Aaron Adouyi went to the shore to get more information about history.
The Canadian coast guard said that ice conditions are “relatively light” this year. However, it has still been occupied with activities that break the ice, helping commercial ships to reach ports that include Charlottetown and Summerside.
The Coast Guard said he anticipates helping oil tankers inside and outside the port of Charlottetown weekly until there is less ice coverage.
He said that fishing vessels may also require an assistance from breaking as snowmaker and lobster fisheries begin to open throughout the east of Canada.
