Wang, Z., Greenan, B.J.W., Hannah, C.G., and Layton, C. 2025. Past and future sea surface temperature changes in the oceans surrounding Canada. Can. Tech. Rep. Hydrogr. Ocean. Sci. 404: v + 44 pThis study presents changes in the sea surface temperature (SST) in the oceans surrounding Canada using past observations and model projections of future scenarios. The past changes are derived using an SST product, HadISST, in which a recent period (2012-2022) was referenced to a 26-year climatology (1955-1980). The future changes in SST are estimated using a 22-member ensemble of CMIP6 models. The SST changes for overlapping periods from the CMIP6 ensemble and the HadISST in the 10 regions of the Canadianshelf waters are in general agreement, although the CMIP6 results tend to overestimate the observed changes by about 0.1 oC. One exception to this is the Scotian Shelf where the CMIP6 models underestimate the observed SST change. The Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf, Gulf of St. Lawrence and southern Newfoundland shelf are the regions with the largest observed SST increases around Canada. The Gulf of St. Lawrence has the highest correlation (r=0.65) with the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) among the subregions in the North Atlantic Ocean, and the British Columbia Shelf is correlated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (r=0.58). Under the four climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6 to SSP5-8.5), among the mid-century (2040-2059) annual mean SST changes (reference period of 1990-2014) in the 10 regions, the Gulf of St. Lawrence is projected to have the largest increases in temperature (1.8 – 2.5oC), and Baffin Bay has the smallest increases (0.5 – 0.9oC), However, for the summer means, the southern Beaufort Sea has the largest SST increase (2.4 -3.1oC) with Baffin Bay having the smallest changes (1.3-2.1oC).Cite this data as: Wang, Z., Greenan, B.J.W., Hannah, C.G., and Layton, C. (2025) Data of:Past and Future Sea Surface Temperature Changes in the Oceans Surrounding Canada.Published: October 2025. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/3c336e55-4266-406a-922d-bbf8e717558c

Rideau Canal Skateway - Ice condition by sectionEach winter, the NCC transforms the historic Rideau Canal into the world’s largest skating rink. The Rideau Canal Skateway winds its way through the heart of the National Capital over a total length of 7.8 km. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal in winter becomes a treasure that is the pride of the National Capital and a signature destination.The skating season typically runs from January to early March, but it is weather-dependent. When open, the Skateway is free and accessible 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.When the Skateway is open, ice conditions are monitored by section twice daily, at approximately 8 am and 4 pm.

This catalog contains annual 30 m spatial resolution snow dynamics metrics for each snow-year from 2018-2019 to 2023-2024 for all of Canada. We gather all Landsat and Sentinel-2 images collected over Canada and identify the status of each pixel observation on the image collection date: snow (and ice), non-snow (i.e., land, water), unclear (i.e., clouds, shadows). We built an algorithm to calculate snow cover metrics for each pixel during each winter: start date of the first (and biggest) snow period [startF, startB], end date of the last (and biggest) snow period [endL, endB], number of days with snow cover in total (or in the biggest snow period) [lengthT, lengthB], number of snow periods (i.e., separated times with multiple confirmed snow observations) [periods], and a status classification (e.g., continuous snow, snow free) [status]. We do not obtain a clear observation every day because of satellite orbit frequencies and clouds. This means that timing-based metrics are identified by the middle date between two clear observations, with uncertainty quantified as half the length of the gap (i.e., ± days) [startF_u, startB_u, endL_u, endB_u, lengthT_u, lengthB_u].

Description:Seasonal mean current speed from the British Columbia continental margin model (BCCM) were calculated as the root mean square of the zonal (U) and meridional (V) velocities and averaged over the 1981 to 2010 period to create seasonal mean climatology of the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone.Methods:Current speeds at up to forty-six linearly interpolated vertical levels from surface to 2400 m and at the sea bottom are included. Spring months were defined as April to June, summer months were defined as July to September, fall months were defined as October to December, and winter months were defined as January to March. The data available here contain raster layers of seasonal current speed climatology for the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone at 3 km spatial resolution and 47 vertical levels.Uncertainties:Model results have been extensively evaluated against observations (e.g. altimetry, CTD and nutrient profiles, observed geostrophic currents), which showed the model can reproduce with reasonable accuracy the main oceanographic features of the region including salient features of the seasonal cycle and the vertical and cross-shore gradient of water properties. However, the model resolution is too coarse to allow for an adequate representation of inlets, nearshore areas, and the Strait of Georgia.

Description:Seasonal mean aragonite saturation state from the British Columbia continental margin model (BCCM) were averaged over the 1993 to 2020 period to create seasonal mean climatology of the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone.Methods:Aragonite saturation states at up to forty-six linearly interpolated vertical levels from surface to 2400 m and at the sea bottom are included. Spring months were defined as April to June, summer months were defined as July to September, fall months were defined as October to December, and winter months were defined as January to March. The data available here contain raster layers of seasonal aragonite saturation state climatology for the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone at 3 km spatial resolution and 47 vertical levels.Uncertainties:Model results have been extensively evaluated against observations (e.g. altimetry, CTD and nutrient profiles, observed geostrophic currents), which showed the model can reproduce with reasonable accuracy the main oceanographic features of the region including salient features of the seasonal cycle and the vertical and cross-shore gradient of water properties. However, the model resolution is too coarse to allow for an adequate representation of inlets, nearshore areas, and the Strait of Georgia.

Description:Seasonal mean aragonite saturation state from the British Columbia continental margin model (BCCM) were averaged over the 1981 to 2010 period to create seasonal mean climatology of the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone.Methods:Aragonite saturation states at up to forty-six linearly interpolated vertical levels from surface to 2400 m and at the sea bottom are included. Spring months were defined as April to June, summer months were defined as July to September, fall months were defined as October to December, and winter months were defined as January to March. The data available here contain raster layers of seasonal aragonite saturation state climatology for the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone at 3 km spatial resolution and 47 vertical levels.Uncertainties:Model results have been extensively evaluated against observations (e.g. altimetry, CTD and nutrient profiles, observed geostrophic currents), which showed the model can reproduce with reasonable accuracy the main oceanographic features of the region including salient features of the seasonal cycle and the vertical and cross-shore gradient of water properties. However, the model resolution is too coarse to allow for an adequate representation of inlets, nearshore areas, and the Strait of Georgia.

Snow survey administrative basin areas, which are components of the BC snow survey network. Basin codes are used as basis of snow survey station names, and for some reporting purposes.

In 1997, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 3 to 4 km beneath the Strait of Georgia. This scenario visualizes the effects of that event if it had a magnitude of 7.0, and represents a strong ground shaking event that could strike Metro Vancouver.

Locations of automated snow weather stations, active and inactive. Automated snow weather stations are components of the BC snow survey network.

A building is a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place. Small buildings have only their location recorded. A 'building to scale' is a structure that has one dimension larger than 50 metres for the 1: 20,000 scale and larger than 30 metres for the 1: 10,000 scale. Their extents are recorded. This product requires the use of geographic information system (GIS) software.