Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 03/99) - Sweater weather in February may seem like a pleasant gift.

But as Yellowknifers enjoy higher-than-average temperatures, weather specialists are scrambling to follow complex theories while monitoring the effects of an out-of-whack environment.

"It's great that people there think they're enjoying a warmer winter but there's unintended consequences to that," Environment Canada weather specialist Patrick Kyle said.

Although there's no way to predict all the effects of warmer-than-average temperatures, he said some immediate effects are already evident. Highways and roads built on permafrost are becoming unstable.

He said we may experience more freezing rain, which would put a layer of ice over the snow, making it difficult for animals to get food.

"The numbers show that the temperatures are quite a bit warmer than the long-term averages and most of the models used for climate change show changes are occurring most rapidly in the Arctic," Kyle said.

"The biggest question is what that means. Data shows environments will react to compensate for climate changes but it takes time. The more rapid the changes, the harder it is for the environment to adapt."

An Environment Canada media advisory, released in January, reported 1998 as the warmest year on record in Canada.

Areas of the Arctic recorded annual temperatures more than four degrees Celsius above normal, compared to two degrees in the rest of the country.

The 1981 record was exceeded by half a degree -- an incredible amount in a science where records are normally broken by no more than a tenth of a degree.

Yellowknife Dene elder Joe Martin, 71, echoes some of the same concerns as the scientists but his information isn't gleaned from weather stations. Since he was 18-years-old, he claims angels have talked to him.

"It's been like spring and I asked (my angel) what was going on," Martin said.

"He told me 10 years from now things are going to be very different. The changes are starting right now -- this year."

He said the next decade will be a time for nature to reassert herself.

"All kinds of animals are going to rise up and when the winds come, they'll be over 300 km/h. Everybody is going to leave our town," Martin said.

"Freezing ice is going to fall, even in summer. It's going to hit windows, smashing them... Darkness is coming."

Martin's eyes and matter-of-fact way of storytelling are convincing. He said there was a time when he was afraid, but his angel urged him not to be -- even though his story doesn't have a happy ending.

"I talk to a lot of people. I tell them you have to do for yourself because from now on, it won't be like before. There's nothing that can be done about that," Martin said.

"People don't want to hear about God. They're nervous and block off their ears, but in this world, you're not going to take anything with you. Just your soul. People need to remember that."