This week, I had the opportunity to follow up with David Colville at COGS about his team’s work on the Applied Research Weather Network.
In particular, I was interested in the availability of the current and historic data from the weather stations. From my perspective, access to these records over the last ten to twenty years would be helpful, as the region seeks to address climate change.
In the Register (January 28, 2021) an adhoc coalition is advocating the creation of a world class climate change and ecological research centre. The Annapolis Climate and Ecological Research Centre (ACERC) spokesperson is Peter Nicholson.
He is also Chair for the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices (CICC).
To my mind, these two initiatives beg the question : at what point does weather turn into climate? Will the data from the weather stations be analyzed in terms of climate change? Would historical data allow us to investigate whether we are seeing warmer drier Summers ? Are we seeing fewer, less severe Winter storms? What will be the impact on the hydrology of the Annapolis River system? What will be the impact on agricultural practices? Does the climate change impact our forests and their ecology?
There would appear to be considerable room for collaboration between the community interests and the educational centres in the region. This would include both the work on the weather network, as well as the work by Tim Webster’s team on sea level rise at AGRG in Middleton.
The availability of on-line ‘story-maps’ demonstrates the technology which now exists in support of this type of collaboration.
Later in the week, I visited Endless Shores Books in Bridgetown. In the spirit of ‘Reading where we Live’. (see The Bridgetown Reader, January 29, 2021). I noticed copies of Will Bird ‘This is Nova Scotia’ and Harold Horwood ‘Dancing on the Shore. A Celebration of Life at Annapolis Basin’ on the shelves.
At home, I checked out the new edition of Horwood’s book and came across the following quotations.
“So the whole region from Digby to Belleisle enjoys a microclimate like that of regions some hundreds of miles to the south…. It is consequently, not only a good place for raising animals but also for gardening. Such vegetables as tomatoes, peppers and squash flourish mightily on the shores of the Annapolis Basin.” p.23.
“Whoever first planted peach trees on these shores must have been amazed at their success. A few of us even grow melons besides our patches of corn, potatoes and peas.” p.24.
Harold Horwood wrote the book in Upper Clements, where he lived with his family.
Postscript
Friday was a beautiful cross country ski day. Along the Rifle Range road towards Trout Lake. Just animal tracks, and two sets of ski tracks.
Acknowledgements
I want to acknowledge both Ashley Thompson for the excellent content of the Annapolis Valley Register, and Lewis for the contribution of The Reader to our community. While I was employed at AGRG in Middleton, I always enjoyed the company of excellent researchers, technicians, support staff and students. Edward and Heather continue to be supportive today.
References
COGS Applied Research Weather Network.
Annapolis Valley Register. January 28, 2021. Land in Atlantic Canada is sinking.
The Reader, January 29, 2021, Reading Where We Live: This is Nova Scotia.
Harold Horwood, 2010, Dancing on the Shore. a Celebration of Life at Annapolis Basin, Pottersfield Press.
Will Bird. 1950. This is Nova Scotia.
Ernest Blair Experiment 
We had a COGS weather station here on Mt. Crossman many years ago. We would be happy to have one again. That project was excellent. Anything to help out.
Anne C.
LikeLike