Bioclimatic Conditions on the Labrador Peninsula Coast in 1884–1889, with a Comparison to 1991–2020 at Nain Station

This article presents the bioclimatic conditions prevailing in the north-eastern part of the Labrador Peninsula during 1884–89, determined based on meteorological data from six measurement stations: Rama, Hebron, Okak, Nain, Zoar and Hopedale. Weather observations were made by the Moravian Brethren in consultation with the German Maritime Observatory (Ger. Deutsche Seewarte), which provided them with reliable meteorological instruments and instructions for conducting the observations. Measurements of air temperature, atmospheric pressure, and wind direction and strength were taken three times daily at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 LT. These data have been digitized and made available by the German Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst [DWD]). Based on available meteorological data, bioclimatic analyses were performed using two indices: Wind Chill Temperature (WCT) and Insulation Predicted (Iclp). The annual courses of average 14:00 LT values of air temperature, wind speed, WCT and Iclp were examined. The annual courses of bioclimatic indices parameters were determined, as were the frequency of individual frostbite risk categories and of predicted clothing thermal insulation. The results from stations in the historical period were compared against each other and, for the Nain station, historical period results were compared against contemporary results (years 1991–2020). The analyses show that, the average air temperature and wind speed in the years 1884–89 were, respectively, 2.5 °C and 0.6 ms˗1 lower than in 1991–2020. The WCT and Iclp bioclimatic indices, were prevailingly less favourable in the historical period than in the comparative period by 1.9 °C and 0.1 clo, respectively.