94-464: Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant near Sarnia , Ontario , is Canada's largest photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 97 MW P (80 MW AC ). In 2009, Ontario introduced a feed-in tariff renewable energy payments program paying up to CDN 44.3 cents per kW·h for large ground arrays such as the Sarnia plant. This makes Ontario's one of the top feed in tariff programs in
188-462: A "soaring murder rate". Sarnia had one homicide from 2016 to 2019 and eight homicides from 2020 to 2022. The Toronto Sun reported that the increased murder rate was drug-related, with local youth unable to find opportunities for themselves in the city. Sarnia is located on the eastern shore of Lake Huron at its extreme southern point, where it flows into the St. Clair River. Most of the surrounding area
282-555: A $ 141 million plant that manufactures 30,000 t (30,000 long tons; 33,000 short tons) of succinic acid per year, a chemical used to make plastics, lubricants, paint, cosmetics, food additives, and other products. BioAmber plans to construct a second site and may build it in Sarnia. Solutions4CO2 is developing a 4,645 m (50,000 sq ft) demonstration facility at Bluewater Energy Park. This company captures waste gas/water streams to process into value-added co-products, pharmaceutical drugs, and biofuels. PlantForm Corporation,
376-434: A 17% decline in population over the next twenty-five years. The Monteith-Brown study cited outlines a plan for restructuring the city based on hybrid zoning areas, which will bring work opportunities closer to the neighbourhoods where people live. The City of Sarnia and Lambton County are also implementing an economic development plan with an emphasis on bio-industries and renewable energy. In 2020, Sarnia began to experience
470-622: A Canadian biotech startup company producing ultra-low-cost therapeutic antibody drugs, opened an office at the Western University Research Park in 2011. At the same Park, from the summer of 2012 to the summer of 2016, KmX Corporation operated a pilot plant to produce membranes that filter wastewater from industrial processes. KmX production in Sarnia has since moved to Ottawa and Edmonton. Sarnia has one large mall, Lambton Mall , with 72 stores. The mall, along with several smaller shopping centers, stores, and hotels,
564-425: A fetch of at least 100 km (60 mi) is required to produce lake-effect precipitation. Generally, the larger the fetch, the more precipitation produced. Larger fetches provide the boundary layer with more time to become saturated with water vapor and for heat energy to move from the water to the air. As the air mass reaches the other side of the lake, the engine of rising and cooling water vapor pans itself out in
658-778: A lake-effect snow event left 141 inches (358 cm) of snow in 10 days at North Redfield on the Tug Hill Plateau. Other examples major prolonged lake effect snowstorms on the Tug Hill include December 27, 2001, - January 1, 2002, when 127 inches (320 cm) of snow fell in six days in Montague, January 10–14, 1997, when 110.5 inches (281 cm) of snow fell in five days in North Redfield, and January 15–22, 1940, when over eight feet of snow fell in eight days at Barnes Corners. Syracuse, New York , directly south of
752-477: A relatively short period of time. Furthermore, cold air, when it arrives to the region, tends to move slowly, creating days and sometimes weeks of occasional lake-effect snowfall. The most populous city in the region, Istanbul , is very prone to lake-effect snow and this weather phenomenon occurs almost every winter, despite winter averages of 5 °C (41 °F), comparable to Paris . On multiple occasions, lake-effect snowfall events have lasted for more than
846-807: A similar phenomenon. Locally, it is also known as "lake-effect snow" despite the snow coming in from the sea rather than a lake. Similarly during a north-westerly wind, snow showers can form coming in from the Liverpool Bay , coming down the Cheshire gap , causing snowfall in the West Midlands —this formation resulted in the white Christmas of 2004 in the area, and most recently the heavy snowfall of 8 December 2017 and 30 January 2019. The best-known example occurred in January 1987 , when record-breaking cold air (associated with an upper low) moved across
940-645: A single band of lake-effect snow may form, which extends down the length of Lake Michigan. This long fetch often produces a very intense, yet localized, area of heavy snowfall, affecting cities such as La Porte and Gary . Lake-effect snow is virtually unheard of in Detroit, Toledo , Milwaukee , Toronto , and Chicago, because the region's dominant winds are from the northwest, making them upwind from their respective Great Lakes, although they, too, have on extremely rare occasion seen small amounts of lake-effect snow during easterly or northeasterly winds. More frequently,
1034-403: A single week in late February 2007). Although Fennoscandia is lined with an abundance of lakes, this type of snowfall is rare in these, due to the shallow freshwater freezing early in the cold interiors. One notable exception happened in the middle of May 2008, as Leksand on the since-long unfrozen lake of Siljan got 30 cm (12 in) on the ground. The Sea of Japan creates snowfall in
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#17327868330801128-580: A synonym for winter. These areas allegedly contain populations that suffer from high rates of seasonal affective disorder , a type of psychological depression thought to be caused by lack of light. Cold winds in the winter typically prevail from the northwest in the Great Lakes region, producing the most dramatic lake-effect snowfalls on the southern and eastern shores of the Great Lakes . This lake effect results in much greater snowfall amounts on
1222-493: A wave of Scottish immigrants settled in the area. They became dominant as English speakers and, for decades, claimed to have founded the city. Port Sarnia expanded throughout the 19th century; on 19 June 1856, Parliament passed An Act to Incorporate the Town of Sarnia, and the name Port Sarnia was officially changed to Sarnia, effective 1 January 1857. The Act mentioned 1,000 inhabitants in three wards. The important lumber industry
1316-483: A week, and official single-storm snow depth totals have exceeded 80 centimeters (2.6 ft; 31 in) downtown and 104 centimeters (3.41 ft; 41 in) around the city. Earlier, unofficial measurements are often higher, due to the relative dearth of sufficiently old weather stations in the region; some sources claim up to 4 meters (13 ft; 160 in) of snowfall during the blizzard of March 1987. Meanwhile, snowfall in mountainous provinces in this region
1410-756: Is 46.0 as of 2021, which is older than the Canadian median of 41.6, indicative of Sarnia's aging population. In 2021, 56.8% of residents were Christian , down from 69.5% in 2011. 25.2% of the population was Catholic , 21.1% were Protestant , and 6.6% were Christians of unspecified denomination. All other Christian denominations/Christian-related traditions comprised 3.9% of the population. 39.5% of residents were nonreligious or secular, up from 27.9% in 2011. All other religions (or spiritual beliefs) comprised 3.6% of residents. The largest non-Christian religions were Islam (1.2%) and Hinduism (1.1%). The median income for all persons 15 years old or older in Sarnia in 2015
1504-474: Is a former railway line that passes through a combination of urban and rural areas. This linear park is managed by a volunteer committee and spans 16 km (9.9 mi) through wooded areas and alongside ponds. Benches are available along the path as well as washroom facilities. The path is open year-round: bicycling, running, and dog walking are popular activities in the summer. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing can be enjoyed on snowy days. Access to Lake Huron
1598-580: Is a popular community event enjoyed by families. Canatara Park is one of the first parks in southern Ontario to feature an outdoor fitness equipment installation. The largest recreational park in Sarnia is Germain Park, which incorporates five baseball diamonds, four soccer fields, an outdoor pool, and the Community Gardens. As a memorial to Canadian aviators who died in World War II, one of
1692-512: Is amplified by orographic effect , often resulting in snowfall of several meters, especially at higher elevations. In Northern Europe, cold, dry air masses from Russia can blow over the Baltic Sea and cause heavy snow squalls on areas of the southern and eastern coasts of Sweden, as well as on the Danish island of Bornholm , the east coast of Jutland and the northern coast of Poland . For
1786-465: Is an Ojibwe word that means Blue Water . The park was opened in 1933. Within the park is Lake Chipican, a haven for many different species of birds on their migration routes. Most years, birdwatchers recognize around 150 species. The park also maintains a Children's Animal Farm as part of Sarnia's commitment to wildlife. The annual "Christmas on the Farm" weekend event held at the Farm in early December
1880-738: Is available at Blackwell Side Road. Sarnia connects to the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail , which stretches over 2,100 km (1,300 mi) along the Canadian shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron and the Niagara, Detroit, and St. Lawrence rivers. The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail connects 114 communities and hundreds of parks and natural areas, including wetlands, forests, and beaches. Sarnia has one museum within its city limits, known as "Stones 'N Bones", which houses over 6,000 exhibits. The collection includes rocks, artifacts, fossils, and bones from around
1974-538: Is called " Chemical Valley " and located south of downtown Sarnia. In 2011 the city had the highest level of particulates air pollution of any Canadian city, but it has since dropped to rank 30th in this hazard. About 60 percent of the particulate matter comes from industries and polluters in the neighbouring United States. Lake Huron is cooler than the air in summer and warmer than the air in winter; therefore, it moderates Sarnia's humid continental climate , making temperature extremes of hot and cold less evident. In
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#17327868330802068-477: Is flat, and the elevation ranges from 169 to 281 m (554 to 922 ft) above sea level. The soil mainly comprises clay. Despite this high percentage of clay, the soil is remarkably rich for cultivation. Wiltshire Park, Woodland, Oak Acres, Wees Beach, Oakwood Corners, Woodrow Shores, and Blackwell are part of the North End of Sarnia, which begins immediately north of Ontario Highway 402 and terminates at
2162-437: Is less critical but should be relatively uniform. The wind-speed difference between the surface and vertical height at which the pressure reads 700 mb (70 kPa) should be no greater than 40 knots (74 km/h) so as to prevent the upper portions of the band from shearing off. However, assuming the surface to 700 mb (70 kPa) winds are uniform, a faster overall velocity works to transport moisture more quickly from
2256-600: Is marked by a historic plaque installed by the Ontario Heritage Society. They were fur traders with the Huron and Three Fires Confederacy . At this time, the French Jesuits also established a mission near the Huron village on the river's east bank. Later, the men established farms, attracted other settlers, and stimulated growth in the area. The township was surveyed in 1829, and in the early 1830s,
2350-464: Is not as deep as the other lakes, Erie warms rapidly in the spring and summer, and is frequently the only Great Lake to freeze over in winter. Once frozen, the resulting ice cover alleviates lake-effect snow downwind of the lake. Based on stable isotope evidence from lake sediment coupled with historical records of increasing lake-effect snow, global warming has been predicted to result in a further increase in lake-effect snow. A very large snowbelt in
2444-440: Is one of the world's busiest, as indicated by the average of 78,943,900 t (77,697,100 long tons; 87,020,800 short tons) of shipping that annually travelled the river going in both directions during the period 1993–2002. Lake freighters and oceangoing ships, which are known as "salties", pass up and down the river at the rate of about one every seven minutes during the shipping season. The Paul M. Tellier Tunnel , which
2538-565: Is referred to as the "Greatest Snow on Earth" in the mountains. Lake-effect snow contributes to roughly six to eight snowfalls per year in Salt Lake City , with about 10% of the city's precipitation being contributed by the phenomenon. On one occasion in December 2016, lake-effect snow fell in central Mississippi from a lake band off Ross Barnett Reservoir . The West Coast occasionally experiences ocean-effect showers, usually in
2632-476: Is surrounded by water on three sides, many parts of Southwestern and Central Ontario get a large part of their winter snow from lake-effect snow. This region is notorious for the whiteouts that can suddenly reduce highway visibility on North America's busiest highway ( Ontario Highway 401 ) from clear to zero. The region most commonly affected spans from Port Stanley in the west, the Bruce Peninsula in
2726-497: Is termed ocean-effect or bay-effect snow . The effect is enhanced when the moving air mass is uplifted by the orographic influence of higher elevations on the downwind shores. This uplifting can produce narrow but very intense bands of precipitation , which deposit at a rate of many inches of snow each hour, often resulting in a large amount of total snowfall . The areas affected by lake-effect and parallel "ocean-effect" phenomena are called snowbelts . These include areas east of
2820-658: Is the primary shopping area. The International Symphony Orchestra plays at the Imperial Theatre for an annual season lasting from September to April. In addition to symphonic concerts, the Imperial Theatre offers year-round dramatic productions; Former Max Webster frontman Kim Mitchell has returned to his hometown on occasion to play a concert, including his visit in 2008 for Sarnia's popular Ribfest. In this competition, local amateur chefs share their recipes for barbecued ribs and compete against each other. Canadian composer and music educator Raymond Murray Schafer
2914-544: Is the sole producer of regulatory-approved, food-grade butyl rubber, used in the manufacture of chewing gum . Within the boundaries of its Sarnia plant Lanxess has also created the Bio-industrial Park Sarnia. Chemical Valley and the surrounding area are home to 62 facilities and refineries. These industrial complexes are the heart of Sarnia's infrastructure and economy. They directly employ nearly 8,000 and contribute to almost 45,000 additional jobs in
Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant - Misplaced Pages Continue
3008-442: Is very rare in the area but has occurred, such as the tornado event of 1953 . In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , Sarnia had a population of 72,047 living in 32,188 of its 33,902 total private dwellings, a change of 0.6% from its 2016 population of 71,594 . With a land area of 163.9 km (63.3 sq mi), it had a population density of 439.6/km (1,138.5/sq mi) in 2021. As of
3102-619: The Canadian Maritimes , which may pull cold northwestern air across the Great Lakes for a week or more, commonly identified with the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Since the prevailing winter winds tend to be colder than the water for much of the winter, the southeastern shores of the lakes are almost constantly overcast, leading to the use of the term "the Great Gray Funk" as
3196-622: The Cold War , the United States Government included Sarnia on its list of possible targets for a Soviet nuclear strike because of its petrochemical industry. On 1 January 1991, Sarnia and the neighbouring town of Clearwater (formerly Sarnia Township) were amalgamated as the new city of Sarnia-Clearwater. The amalgamation was initially slated to include the village of Point Edward , although that village's residents resisted. They were eventually permitted to remain independent of
3290-663: The Great Lakes in North America, the west coasts of northern Japan, Lake Baikal in Russia, and areas near the Great Salt Lake , Black Sea , Caspian Sea , Baltic Sea , Adriatic Sea , the North Sea and more. Lake-effect blizzards are the blizzard -like conditions resulting from lake-effect snow. Under certain conditions, strong winds can accompany lake-effect snows creating blizzard-like conditions; however,
3384-748: The Group of Seven . In 2015, the South Western International Film Festival was launched at the city's Imperial Theatre. During the Christmas season, the city of Sarnia presents the annual "Celebration of Lights" in Centennial Park. The event was created in 1984 by Wills Rawana and a committee funded by the retail chain Hudson's Bay , and the national telecommunications company Telus . From modest beginnings,
3478-524: The 2011 opening of Huanghe Hydropower Golmud Solar Park in China . The expected annual energy yield is about 120,000 MW·h, which if produced in a coal-fired plant, would require emission of 39,000 tonnes of CO 2 . Sarnia Sarnia is a city in Lambton County , Ontario , Canada. It had a 2021 population of 72,047, and is the largest city on Lake Huron . Sarnia is located on
3572-522: The 2021 Census, Sarnia was 86.2% White, 8.3% visible minorities, and 5.5% Indigenous. The largest visible minority groups in the city are South Asians (2.7%), Black Canadians (1.6%), and Latin Americans (0.9%). In 2021, 87.5% of Sarnians called English their mother tongue, 2.2% listed French, and 3.4% said another language was their mother tongue. 1.1% listed both English and a non-official language as their mother tongue. The median age in Sarnia
3666-548: The Atlantic, combined with air temperatures in the 30 °F range, brought snow flurries briefly to the Atlantic Coast of northern Florida seen in the air as far south as Cape Canaveral . Because the southern Black Sea is relatively warm (around 13 °C or 55 °F at the beginning of winter, typically 10 to 6 °C or 50 to 43 °F by the end), sufficiently cold air aloft can create significant snowfalls in
3760-595: The Great Salt Lake never freezes, the lake effect can influence the weather along the Wasatch Front year-round. The lake effect largely contributes to the 55–80 inches (140–203 cm) annual snowfall amounts recorded south and east of the lake, and in average snowfall reaching 500 inches (13 m) in the Wasatch Range . The snow, which is often very light and dry because of the semiarid climate,
3854-559: The North Sea towards the UK. The result was over 2 ft of snow for coastal areas, leading to communities being cut off for over a week. The latest of these events to affect Britain's east coast occurred on November 30, 2017; February 28, 2018; and March 17, 2018; in connection with the 2018 Great Britain and Ireland cold wave . The second event of winter 2017/18 was particularly severe, with up to 27.5 inches (70 cm) falling in total over
Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant - Misplaced Pages Continue
3948-547: The Ontario Power Authority pursuant to 20-year power purchase agreements under the terms of the Ontario government's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program. The plant covers 450 hectares (1,100 acres) and contains about 257 ha (635 acres) of modules, which is about 1.3 million thin-film panels. At the completion of Phase II it was the largest solar power station in the world, a title it held until
4042-569: The Sarnia Lambton economy." When World War II threatened tropical sources of natural latex for rubber , Sarnia was selected as the site to spearhead the development of synthetic petroleum-based rubbers for war materials . Polymer Corporation was built by Dow Chemical at the request of the Government of Canada. Large pipelines bring Alberta oil to Sarnia, where oil refining and petrochemical production have become mainstays of
4136-582: The Tug Hill Plateau, receives significant lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario, and averages 115.6 inches (294 cm) of snow per year, which is enough snowfall to be considered one of the "snowiest" large cities in America. Lake Erie produces a similar effect for a zone stretching from the eastern suburbs of Cleveland through Erie to Buffalo . Remnants of lake-effect snows from Lake Erie have been observed to reach as far south as Garrett County, Maryland , and as far east as Geneva, New York . Because it
4230-474: The Tug Hill plateau (east of Lake Ontario ) can frequently set daily records for snowfall in the United States. Tug Hill receives, typically, over 20 feet (240 in; 610 cm) of snow each winter. The snowiest portions of the Tug Hill, near the junction of the towns of Montague , Osceola , Redfield , and Worth , average over 300 inches (760 cm) of snow annually. From February 3–12, 2007,
4324-551: The United States by the opening of the St. Clair Tunnel under the St. Clair River at Sarnia in 1890 by the Grand Trunk Railway. This was the first railroad tunnel ever constructed under a river. The tunnel was an engineering marvel in its day, achieved through the development of original techniques for excavating in a compressed air environment. Canada Steamship Lines formed in 1913 from many previous companies that plied
4418-786: The United States exists on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan , near the cities of Houghton , Marquette , and Munising . These areas typically receive 250–300 inches (635–762 cm) of snow each season. For comparison, on the western shore, Duluth, Minnesota receives 78 inches (198 cm) per season. Western Michigan , western Northern Lower Michigan , and Northern Indiana can get heavy lake-effect snows as winds pass over Lake Michigan and deposit snows over Muskegon , Traverse City , Grand Rapids , Kalamazoo , New Carlisle , South Bend , and Elkhart , but these snows abate significantly before Lansing or Fort Wayne, Indiana . When winds become northerly or aligned between 330 and 390°,
4512-578: The area. In 1971, the Canadian government deemed this area so important to the economic development of the country that it printed an image of a Sarnia Oil Refinery on the reverse of the Canadian $ 10 note . The huge industrial area is the cause of significant air and water pollution. The Canada Wide Daily Standard for airborne particulate matter and ozone pollution, regulation PM2.5, is 30 micrograms per cubic metre. Forty-five percent of this particulate air pollution in Sarnia comes from Chemical Valley, and
4606-484: The city's economy. Shell Canada , Imperial Oil , and Suncor Energy ( Sunoco ) operate refineries in Sarnia. Large salt beds found under the city became a source of chlorine and other significant ingredients which contributed to the success of Chemical Valley. Chemical companies operating in Sarnia include NOVA Chemicals , Bayer ( Lanxess and H.C. Starck), Cabot Corporation , and Ethyl Corporation . Dow Chemical ceased operations at its Sarnia site in 2009, with
4700-416: The city. On 1 January 1992, the city reverted to the name Sarnia. Sarnia's population continued to grow from 1961 to 1991, with a 1991 population of 74,376. In 2001, the population had declined by approximately 3,000. Since 2001, Sarnia's population has been growing slowly, with a 2011 population count of 72,366. An April 2010 report "Sarnia-Lambton's Labour Market" states: "Large petrochemical companies are
4794-424: The community's main economic drivers. Over the recent past, several plants have shut down,[sic] and of those still in operation, increased automation and outsourcing has led to significantly fewer workers." These shutdowns and the resulting loss of jobs, and therefore of population as workers search for employment elsewhere, will contribute to a general decline as forecast by an August 2011 study. It projects
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#17327868330804888-437: The construction of Polymer Corporation; at one point, it had nearly 3,000 residents. In 1961, all the residents were relocated, mostly to the North End, to make way for the expansion of the chemical industry. The village was demolished, and all that remains is a historical marker at the corner of Vidal Street and Huron Boulevard. This neighbourhood was largely forgotten until historian Lorraine Williams wrote two books about it. She
4982-413: The duration of the event is often slightly less than that required for a blizzard warning in both the U.S. and Canada. If the air temperature is low enough to keep the precipitation frozen, it falls as lake-effect snow. If not, then it falls as lake-effect rain. For lake-effect rain or snow to form, the air moving across the lake must be significantly cooler than the surface air (which is likely to be near
5076-545: The east, averages 194.3 cm (76.5 in). The moderating effect of Lake Huron which Sarnia has a long shoreline on its north side, and to a lesser extent other nearby Great Lakes ensure seasonal lag similar to other lakeside locations over much of Southern Ontario. This gives Sarnia a noticeably milder period following Summer and delaying onset of the first frost in the Fall. Conversely, cooler average daytime temperatures tend to prevail for longer after winter breaks, through
5170-697: The eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes , where Lake Huron flows into the St. Clair River in the Southwestern Ontario region, which forms the Canada–United States border , directly across from Port Huron, Michigan . The site's natural harbour first attracted the French explorer La Salle . He named the site "The Rapids" on 23 August 1679, when he had horses and men pull his 45-ton barque Le Griffon north against
5264-427: The event has garnered numerous awards as it has grown, including second place in the 2002 Canadian Government's Canada WinterLights competition. The celebration was incorporated in its national prizewinning year and is now run by a voluntary Board of Directors. There are more than 100 parks in Sarnia, the largest being Canatara Park, which covers more than 81 ha (200 acres) along the shore of Lake Huron. Canatara
5358-408: The form of condensation and falls as snow, usually within 40 km (25 mi) of the lake, but sometimes up to about 150 km (100 mi). Directional shear is one of the most important factors governing the development of squalls; environments with weak directional shear typically produce more intense squalls than those with higher shear levels. If directional shear between the surface and
5452-739: The form of rain at lower elevations south of about the mouth of the Columbia River . These occur whenever an Arctic air mass from western Canada is drawn westward out over the Pacific Ocean, typically by way of the Fraser Valley , returning shoreward around a center of low pressure. Cold air flowing southwest from the Fraser Valley can also pick up moisture over the Strait of Georgia and Strait of Juan de Fuca , then rise over
5546-465: The height in the atmosphere at which the barometric pressure measures 700 mb (70 kPa) is greater than 60°, nothing more than flurries can be expected. If the directional shear between the body of water and the vertical height at which the pressure measures 700 mb (70 kPa) is between 30° and 60°, weak lake-effect bands are possible. In environments where the shear is less than 30°, strong, well organized bands can be expected. Speed shear
5640-687: The increased instability). Some key elements are required to form lake-effect precipitation and which determine its characteristics: instability, fetch, wind shear, upstream moisture, upwind lakes, synoptic (large)-scale forcing, orography/topography, and snow or ice cover. A temperature difference of approximately 13 °C (23 °F) between the lake temperature and the height in the atmosphere (about 1,500 m or 5,000 ft at which barometric pressure measures 850 mbar or 85 kPa) provides for absolute instability and allows vigorous heat and moisture transportation vertically. Atmospheric lapse rate and convective depth are directly affected by both
5734-799: The late Spring and early Summer as compared to further inland. Daily lows of less than −10 °C (14 °F) occur an average of 29 days a year, and less than −20 °C (−4 °F), only average two days a year. Summers are warm with typically humid conditions. Humidex readings and Dew Points can be very high at times from late May to late September. Sarnia has the second greatest number of high humidex days at or above 35 °C (95 °F) (with 23.16 days on average per year) and humidex days at or above 30 °C (86 °F) (with 61.20 days on average per year) in Canada, ranking after Windsor, Ontario . Thunderstorms are frequent and can occasionally become severe from April to September. Destructive weather
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#17327868330805828-444: The lee of a downwind lake by adding moisture or pre-existing lake-effect bands, which can reintensify over the downwind lake. Upwind lakes do not always lead to an increase of precipitation downwind. Vorticity advection aloft and large upscale ascent help increase mixing and the convective depth, while cold air advection lowers the temperature and increases instability. Typically, lake-effect precipitation increases with elevation to
5922-439: The lee of the lake as topographic forcing squeezes out precipitation and dries out the squall much faster. As a lake gradually freezes over, its ability to produce lake-effect precipitation decreases for two reasons. Firstly, the open ice-free liquid surface area of the lake shrinks. This reduces fetch distances. Secondly, the water temperature nears freezing, reducing overall latent heat energy available to produce squalls. To end
6016-456: The mesoscale lake environment and the synoptic environment; a deeper convective depth with increasingly steep lapse rates and a suitable moisture level allow for thicker, taller lake-effect precipitation clouds and naturally a much greater precipitation rate. The distance that an air mass travels over a body of water is called fetch. Because most lakes are irregular in shape, different angular degrees of travel yield different distances; typically,
6110-666: The mountainous western Japanese prefectures of Niigata and Nagano , parts of which are known collectively as snow country ( Yukiguni ). In addition to Japan, much of maritime Korea and the Shandong Peninsula experience these conditions. Strong winds and a very large, deep lake enhance snowfall around Lake Baikal in the fall; however, nearly the entire surface of the lake freezes from January until Spring, precluding lake-effect snow. Moving of polar or Siberian high-pressure centers along Caspian Sea regarding to relatively warmer water of this sea can make heavy snowfalls in
6204-518: The name was formally adopted by a vote of 26 to 16, and Colborne also named the nearby village Moore after British military hero Sir John Moore. Sarnia adopted the nickname "The Imperial City" on 7 May 1914 because of the visit of Canada's Governor General , the Duke of Connaught , and his daughter Princess Patricia . Ethnic French colonists, who came from Detroit , were the first European colonizers of what became Sarnia in about 1807–1810; their role
6298-457: The nearly four-knot current of the St. Clair River. This was the first time that a vessel other than a canoe or other oar-powered vessel had sailed into Lake Huron, and La Salle's voyage was germinal in the development of commercial shipping on the Great Lakes. Located in the natural harbour, the Sarnia port remains an important centre for lake freighters and oceangoing ships carrying cargoes of grain and petroleum products. The natural port and
6392-429: The north side of a low-pressure system picks up more moisture over the lake as it travels east, creating a phenomenon called lake-enhanced precipitation. However, a place like Altoona, Pennsylvania or Oakland, Maryland is far more likely to receive lake effect snow than either aforementioned location despite greater distance from the lakes, because of being on the leeward side of the lake. Because Southwestern Ontario
6486-518: The north, Niagara-on-the-Lake to the east, and Fort Erie to the south. The heaviest accumulations usually happen in the Bruce Peninsula, which is between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. So long as the Great Lakes are not frozen over, the only time the Bruce Peninsula does not get lake-effect snow is when the wind is directly from the south. The southern and southeastern sides of the Great Salt Lake receive significant lake-effect snow. Since
6580-735: The northeastern slopes of the Olympic Mountains , producing heavy, localized snow between Port Angeles and Sequim , as well as areas in Kitsap County and the Puget Sound region . While snow of any type is very rare in Florida, the phenomenon of gulf-effect snow has been observed along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico a few times in history. More recently, "ocean-effect" snow occurred on January 24, 2003, when wind off
6674-590: The northern coast of Iran. Several blizzards have been reported in this region during the last decades. In February 2014, heavy snowfall reached 200 cm (79 in) on the coastline in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces of Iran. The heaviest snowfall was reported in Abkenar village near Anzali Lagoon . In the United Kingdom, easterly winds bringing cold continental air across the North Sea can lead to
6768-472: The northern parts of the Baltic Sea, this happens mainly in the early winter, since it freezes later. Southeast Norway can also experience heavy sea snow events with east-north-easterly winds. Especially, coastal areas from Kragerø to Kristiansand have had incredible snow depths in the past with intense persistent snowbands from Skagerak (the coastal city of Arendal recorded 280 cm (110 in) in
6862-710: The plants after that decommissioned and the land sold to neighbouring TransAlta Energy Corporation. TransAlta produces power and steam for industry, and is the largest natural gas co-generation plant in Canada. It has created the Bluewater Energy Park on the former Dow site. Dow returned to Sarnia in 2019, when it took ownership of a former Dupont production site on Albert Street in Corunna that modifies polyethylene and polypropylene. Lanxess produces more than 150,000 t (150,000 long tons; 170,000 short tons) of butyl rubber annually at its Sarnia location and
6956-435: The production of lake-effect precipitation, a complete freeze is often not necessary. Even when precipitation is not produced, cold air passing over warmer water may produce cloud cover. Fast-moving mid-latitude cyclones, known as Alberta clippers , often cross the Great Lakes. After the passage of a cold front, winds tend to switch to the northwest, and a frequent pattern is for a long-lasting low-pressure area to form over
7050-407: The remaining Canadair Sabres in Canada is on display in the park. Centennial Park was opened on 1 July Dominion Day holiday in 1967 as part of Canada's centenary celebrations. The City of Sarnia decided in 2013 to close much of Centennial Park, after the discovery of toxic levels of lead and asbestos in the soil. After years of remediation, the park was reopened in 2017. Howard Watson Trail
7144-419: The rest drifts over the St. Clair River from the neighbouring United States in the form of what is known as "Transboundary Air Pollution". Sarnia is the location of Enbridge 's Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant . The facility underwent a full commercial operation in December 2009, with 20 MW of power. As of September 2010 , the plant was the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar power generation facility in
7238-497: The salt caverns that exist in the surrounding areas, together with the oil discovered in nearby Oil Springs in 1858, led to the dramatic growth of the petroleum industry in this area. Because Oil Springs was the first place in Canada and North America to drill commercially for oil, the knowledge that was acquired there resulted in oil drillers from Sarnia travelling the world teaching other enterprises and nations how to drill for oil. The complex of refining and chemical companies
7332-511: The shore of Lake Huron. Blackwell, Bright's Grove, and the western part of Huron Heights are in the northeast part along the shores of Lake Huron. Coronation Park, Fourth Line Heritage Park, College Park, Lucasville, Bunyan, Froomfield, The Tree Streets, Mitton Village, and Sherwood Village are some of the neighbourhoods south of the highway. The village of Blue Water was built to house workers and their families in Chemical Valley during
7426-430: The shores of Lake Huron. One of these, named "The Rapids", consisted then of 44 taxpayers, nine frame houses, four log houses, two brick dwellings, two taverns and three stores. The villagers wanted to change its name but were unable to agree on an alternative. The English settlers favoured the name "Buenos Aires", and the ethnic Scottish favoured "New Glasgow". Sir John Colborne suggested Port Sarnia. On 4 January 1836,
7520-652: The southern and eastern shores compared to the northern and western shores of the Great Lakes. The most affected areas include the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ; Northern New York and Central New York ; particularly the Tug Hill Region, Western New York ; Northwestern Pennsylvania ; Northeastern Ohio ; southwestern Ontario and central Ontario; Northeastern Illinois (along the shoreline of Lake Michigan); northwestern and north central Indiana (mostly between Gary and Elkhart ); northern Wisconsin (near Lake Superior); and West Michigan . Lake-effect snows on
7614-611: The summer of 2017, a new festival called Bluewater Borderfest enjoyed a successful inaugural event. Besides the single museum in Sarnia proper, six other local museums document Sarnia's history, including its legacy as the home of the North American oil industry. Gallery Lambton offers 12 annual art exhibitions. In 2012 the Judith and Norman Alex Art Gallery opened. It is an international Category A art gallery, featuring exhibitions of Canadian art history, including paintings from
7708-525: The temperature of the water surface). Specifically, the air temperature at an altitude where the air pressure is 850 millibars (85 kPa ) (roughly 1.5 kilometers or 5,000 feet vertically) should be 13 °C (23 °F) lower than the temperature of the air at the surface. Lake-effect occurring when the air at 850 millibars (85 kPa ) is much colder than the water surface can produce thundersnow , snow showers accompanied by lightning and thunder (caused by larger amounts of energy available from
7802-432: The water, and the band then travels much farther inland. A lower upstream relative humidity lake effect makes condensation, clouds, and precipitation more difficult to form. The opposite is true if the upstream moisture has a high relative humidity, allowing lake-effect condensation, cloud, and precipitation to form more readily and in a greater quantity. Any large body of water upwind impacts lake-effect precipitation to
7896-460: The waters of the St. Clair River. One of these companies was Northwest Transportation Company of Sarnia, founded in 1870. By 20 April 1914, when Parliament passed An Act to Incorporate the City of Sarnia , the population had grown to 10,985 in six wards. Sarnia officially became a city as of 7 May 1914. Sarnia's grain elevator, which in the early 21st century is the 15th-largest operating in Canada,
7990-447: The winter, Sarnia occasionally experiences lake-effect snow from Arctic air blowing across the warmer waters of Lake Huron and condensing to form snow squalls over land. The name "Sarnia" is Latin for Guernsey , a British Channel Island . In 1829 Sir John Colborne , a former governor of Guernsey, was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. In this capacity, he visited two small settlements in 1835 that had been laid out on
8084-619: The world, putting out 97 MW. The 32 ha (80-acre) Western University Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus was established in 2003 by the University of Western Ontario as a joint initiative with the County of Lambton and the City of Sarnia. The park is also the location of the Bioindustrial Innovation Centre, Canada's centre for the commercialization of industrial biotechnology. In 2015, BioAmber opened
8178-444: The world. Lake-effect snow Lake-effect snow is produced during cooler atmospheric conditions when a cold air mass moves across long expanses of warmer lake water. The lower layer of air, heated by the lake water, picks up water vapor from the lake and rises through colder air. The vapor then freezes and is deposited on the leeward (downwind) shores. The same effect also occurs over bodies of saline water , when it
8272-533: The world. Phase I (for 20 MW) was completed in December 2009. Phase II (60 MW) was completed in September 2010 at a cost of C$ 300 million. The project was developed by Enbridge . First Solar developed, engineered, and constructed the facility, and it will operate the Sarnia Solar Project for Enbridge under a long-term contract. Enbridge will sell the power output of the facility to
8366-628: Was $ 33,833, while the median family income was $ 86,654, in line with the averages for Ontario as a whole, at $ 33,539 and $ 91,089, respectively. In 2021, the median price of a house in Sarnia was $ 430,000, compared to the $ 887,290 of Ontario as a whole. In its March 2011 Labour Market Report, the Sarnia-Lambton Workforce Development Board states that: "Even though employment in both the petrochemical and agricultural industries has declined significantly in recent years, these two industries remain central drivers of
8460-582: Was based on the wealth of virgin timber in the area, at a time of development around the Great Lakes. Lumber was especially in demand in the booming US cities of Chicago and Detroit . The discovery of oil in nearby Oil Springs in 1858 by James Miller Williams , and the arrival of the Great Western Railway in 1858 and the Grand Trunk Railway in 1859, all stimulated Sarnia's growth. The rail lines were later linked directly to
8554-472: Was born in Sarnia and developed his radical schizophonia techniques there. The Sarnia Bayfest (which was preceded by the "Festival by the Bay") was an annual concert festival that featured big-name rock and country bands. Musicians and groups such as Aerosmith , KISS , Keith Urban , Jon Bon Jovi and Rascal Flatts have played at the event. Financial problems caused the event's cancellation in 2013. In
8648-431: Was built in 1927 after the dredging of Sarnia Harbour to allow access to larger ships. Two years later, grain shipments had become an important part of Sarnia's economy. The grain elevator rises above the harbour, and next to it is the slip for the numerous bulk carriers and other ships that are part of the contemporary shipping industry. They include vessels from all over the world. The waterway between Detroit and Sarnia
8742-575: Was instrumental in gaining approval for the historical plaque. Sarnia has a humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfb ), verging on the hot summer subtype Dfa . Winters are cold with a few short-lasting Arctic air masses that dip far enough south and bring with them daily high temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F). Sarnia, while not quite located in the southwestern Ontario snowbelt, sometimes receives large quantities of lake-effect snow . Sarnia averages 112.0 cm (44.1 in) of snow per year, while London, inland and to
8836-430: Was named after the retired president of CN in 2004, was bored and began operation in 1995. It accommodates double-stacked rail cars and is located next to the original tunnel, which has been sealed. A petroleum industry was established in the Sarnia area in 1858, and in 1942, Polymer Corporation manufactured synthetic rubber there during World War II , enhancing Sarnia's notability as a petrochemical centre. During
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