Meteorological Service of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), also known as "The Canadian Weather Service", is a division of Environment Canada
, which primarily provides public meteorological
information and weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather and other environmental hazards. MSC also monitors and conducts research on climate
, atmospheric science, air quality, water quantities, ice and other environmental issues. MSC operates a network of radio stations throughout Canada transmitting weather and environmental information 24 hours per day called Weatheradio Canada
.
There are currently forecast offices in Vancouver
, British Columbia
; Edmonton
, Alberta
; Winnipeg
, Manitoba
; Toronto
, Ontario
; Montreal
, Quebec
; Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
; and Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
.
The Meteorological Service of Canada is ISO9001:2000 Certified.
), and explorers, but this information was not provided to the general public.
established an observatory in Toronto, Canada West, one of a few across the British Empire
.
to establish a network of weather observations. This information was collected and made available to the public from 1877 onwards. The MSC was then assigned under the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries
.
as the Meteorological Division of the Air Services Branch and as the Meteorological Branch from 1956.
) in 1971. The AES was renamed later as the Meteorological Service of Canada.
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
, which primarily provides public meteorological
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
information and weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather and other environmental hazards. MSC also monitors and conducts research on climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
, atmospheric science, air quality, water quantities, ice and other environmental issues. MSC operates a network of radio stations throughout Canada transmitting weather and environmental information 24 hours per day called Weatheradio Canada
Weatheradio Canada
Weatheradio Canada, in French Radiométéo Canada, is a Canadian radio network that broadcasts weather information. Owned and operated by Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada division, the network transmits in both official languages from 199 sites across Canada.In most locations,...
.
There are currently forecast offices in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
; Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
; Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
; Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
; Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
; Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
; and Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
.
The Meteorological Service of Canada is ISO9001:2000 Certified.
Private Observations
Prior to 1840, meteorological observations in Canada were made by private individuals, other entities (like HBCHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
), and explorers, but this information was not provided to the general public.
Her Majesty's Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory
In 1840, British officials (British Ordnance Department) and the Royal SocietyRoyal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
established an observatory in Toronto, Canada West, one of a few across the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
Meteorological Service of the Dominion
The Toronto observatory ended in 1853, but the Canadian government took over the service and continued collecting climate data. On May 1, 1871, the Government of Canada established the Meteorological Service of Canada by providing a $5000 grant to Professor G. T. Kingston of the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
to establish a network of weather observations. This information was collected and made available to the public from 1877 onwards. The MSC was then assigned under the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, frequently referred to as DFO , is the department within the government of Canada that is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters...
.
Meteorological Division of the Air Services Branch
From 1936 to 1946 the services assigned under the Ministry of TransportTransport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
as the Meteorological Division of the Air Services Branch and as the Meteorological Branch from 1956.
Atmospheric Environment Service and Meteorological Service of Canada
In 1971 the Canadian Meteorological Service was established under the Ministry of Environment (Environment CanadaEnvironment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
) in 1971. The AES was renamed later as the Meteorological Service of Canada.
Heads of the Observatory/MSC
- 1840 Lieutenant C.J.B. Riddell, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- 1841 Captain J.G. Younghusband
- 1841-1853 Captain Henry Lefroy
- Professor J.B. Cherriman 1853-1855 - Provisional Director of the Toronto Observatory
- Professor G. T. Kingston 1855-1880 - Director of the Toronto Observatory, Superintendent of the MSC
- Charles Carpmael 1880-1894, Director
- Sir R. Frederick Stupart 1894-1929, Director
- John Patterson M.A. F.R.C.S. 1929-1946, Director
- Andrew ThomsonAndrew ThomsonAndrew Thomson may refer to:*Andrew Thomson , South African kickboxer*Andrew Thomson , Canadian NDP politician and minister...
D.Sc., M.A. OBE 1946-1959 - Controller of the Meteorological Division - Patrick D. McTaggart-Cowan DSc LLD MBE 1959-1964 - Director of the Meteorological Division
- J.R.H. Noble 1964-1971 - Assistant Minister, Atmospheric Environment Service
- J.R.H. Noble 1964-1971 - Administrator, Atmospheric Environment Service
Headquarters
- 1840 Old Fort York (Bathurst Street), Toronto, Upper Canada - housed in unused barracks
- 1840-1853 Kings' College, Toronto, Upper Canada/Canada West - still located at King's College Circle, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(see Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological ObservatoryToronto Magnetic and Meteorological ObservatoryThe Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory is a historical observatory located on the grounds of the University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The original building was constructed in 1840 as part of a worldwide research project run by Edward Sabine to determine the cause of...
) - 1907-1971 Dominion Meteorological Building 315 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario - now Admissions and Awards Building, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
- 1971–present 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario
See also
- Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society
- Environment CanadaEnvironment CanadaEnvironment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
- NinJoNinJoNinJo is a meteorological software system. It is a community project of the German, Canadian, Danish and Swiss national meteorological services and the German military. It consists of modules for monitoring weather events, editing point forecasts and viewing meteorological data. An additional batch...
, SMC new workstationWorkstationA workstation is a high-end microcomputer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems... - Forecast regionForecast regionA forecast region is a unique geographical area for which individual weather reports are issued.-Canada:In Canada, the Meteorological Service divides the country into several forecast regions for the purpose of issuing routine text forecasts and weather warnings, as Canada's provinces and...
- The Weather NetworkThe Weather NetworkThe Weather Network is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts weather-related news and information 24 hours a day....