Climate
As with almost every aspect of life in the Maritimes the ocean plays a large role in our climatic conditions. The oceans and waters of the Bay of Fundy heat up and cool down at a slower rate than the air around them. The Bay of Fundy has an average summer water temperature of between 8-12C and winter temperatures of 0-4C.This results in cooler summer temperatures and warmer winter temperatures.
The area has a total annual precipitation of 120 cm along Digby Neck and the
Islands and the coastal zones of Digby County. The northern interior region of Digby County has upwards of 150 cm annually and the coastal region of Annapolis County (excluding the valley region) has a total annual precipitation of between 120 cm and 140 cm. The average temperature in January is between -3°C and -6°C while the average July temperature is in the range of +13°C and +19° C. While this is data that is characteristic of the region as a whole, there are what could be viewed as microclimates. These occur due to the areas unique circumstances, such as proximity to the Bay of Fundy (a large ice-free body of water), two mountain ranges and the Digby Neck and Islands formation.
The North and South Mountain Ranges shelter the valley region from various forces of nature such as the winds from the Bay of Fundy. Factors such as this give the valley the highest average temperatures with up to 140 frost-free days and the lowest average precipitation levels of anywhere on the mainland. Areas such as Brier Island, Long Island and Digby Neck are very much exposed to the influence of onshore weather patterns. This gives the area a high percentage of fog days, lower snow fall and cooler summer temperatures by an average of 4°C-5°C compared with the interior regions of the two Counties.
The Bay of Fundy is dominated by the highest
tides in the world. These are known as semidiurnal tides, meaning that there is a high tide twice a day and a low tide twice a day. These tides can then be classified as solar semidiurnal and lunar semidiurnal tides. Each day there is a solar high tide and a lunar high tide as well as a solar low tide and a lunar low tide.
High and low tides do not occur at the same time each day, every high tide is approximately 12 hours and 25 minutes later than the previous one. This means that, from day to day, high tide occurs about 50 minutes later than the corresponding tide the previous day.
The height of tides will vary as well as the time, In some areas the difference between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide can be up to 2m or more with the "spring tides " usually being the highest. The term "spring tide" does not refer to the season but to a tide that is abnormally high due to the alignment of the moon and the sun.
As with any bay or basin of water there is a natural period of oscillation as water flows back and forth from the mouth to the head of the bay. Once set in motion it acts like a pendulum, taking only a slight nudge to overcome friction and maintain the amplitude. The length and depth of the body of water determine oscillation rates. The Bay of Fundy is 400 km long with an average depth of 75m. These conditions create an oscillation rate that corresponds very closely with that of the tides outside the Bay. In this way the oscillation rates amplify the effects of the tides as you move from the mouth inward.
The tide moves 105 cubic km or 3.5 million
cubic feet of water in and out of the Bay of Fundy. This water moves in a relative mass, having only a 24-minute difference between high tide at the mouth of the Bay at Long Island and high tide at Cape Chignecto. The current created by the tide is of roughly equal strength at all depths as well as across the surface. Measurements taken at the midway point of both depth and width of the bay at the half flood point of the tide showed current speeds to be 4.5km/h.
Due to the Coriolis Effect, (the tendency of particles in the northern hemisphere to go right and southern hemisphere to go left.) the incoming tides affect the Nova Scotia side of the Bay more.
The powerful tides not only effect our coastline and shore but also impact on the larger rivers that flow into the Bay. An incoming tide will cause water levels to rise at a quicker rate than they will recede. The force of this incoming rush will cause rivers to meander and will transport large amounts of alluvial material back and forth. Especially high tides will cause the river to flood and deposit alluvial material as the water level retreats effecting saltwater marshes or forming mud flats.
The power and speed of our tides is something to be respected and considered at all times when partaking in any activity on our waters or in our tidal zones.
[Home
| News | Ecotourism
]
[ Eco Solutions | Regional
Map | Tourist Info]