The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) 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.
The Meteorological Service of Canada is ISO9001:2000 Certified.
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History
Private Observations
Prior to 1840, meteorological observations in Canada were made by private individuals, other entities (like HBC), and explorers, but this information was not provided to the general public. [1]
Her Majesty's Magnetic and Meterological Observatory
In 1840, British officials (British Ordance Department) and the Royal Society established an observatory in Toronto, Canada West, one of a few across the British Empire[2].
Meteorological Service of the Dominion
The Toronto observatory ended in 1853, but the Canadian government took over the service and continued collecting climate data. In 1876, the Meteorological Service of Canada was established by Professor G. T. Kingston of the University of Toronto and information collected was made available to the public from 1877 onwards. The MSC was then assigned under the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries.
Meterological Division of the Air Services Branch
From 1936 to 1946 the services assigned under the Ministry of Transport as the Meteorological Division of the Air Services Branch' and as the Meteorological Branch from 1956.[3]
Atmospheric Environment Service and Meteorological Service of Canada
In 1971 the Canadian Meteorological Service was established under the Ministry of Environment (Environment Canada) in 1971.[4] The AES was renamed later as the Meteorological Service of Canada.
Heads of the Observatory/MSC
- 1840 Lieutenant C.J.B. Riddell, Royal Artillery
- 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 Thomson 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 Fort York (Bathurst Street)
- 1840-1853 Kings' College
- 1853-1907 Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory
- 1907-1971 315 Bloor Street West
- 1971-present 4905 Dufferin Street
See also
References
- ^ Meterology in Canada
- ^ Meterology in Canada
- ^ The Post War Growth 1947-1970
- ^ A Century of Canadian Meteorology
External links
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