The evidence of recent Canadian Arctic climate change: a case study, the Baffin Island

The climate change evidence in Baffin Island is investigated by examining the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) model datasets. The yearly mean time series during 1948-2017 for near-surface air temperatures, vertical velocity at 700 hPa, precipitation rate and specific humidity show rapid changes during recent decade. This work shows the increase of vertical motion linked to the local instability intensification over the study area through past decade. The monthly anomalies of the near-surface air temperatures show regional warming in recent decade with the greater values during January and February. Surface albedo has been decreased mostly in the coastal boundaries especially in October around 10%-30%. The average precipitation has been increased during June, July, September and November mostly in the south of the Baffin Island region. However, during the months of April and May (except over the topographical areas in the south-east) the precipitation has been decreased respect to climatology mean values.