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Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

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31–40 of 53 posts

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#31
post #6

I've seen the wrong side of -40, when I was flying to work in Ft McMurray, Alberta for a consulting job. One time, I drew the short straw and had to go pick up our SUVs at the parking lot upon landing. They were outside, plugged in. The car started with the saddest sound I ever heard a mechanical thing make. I put it in reverse, hit the gas, and pulled out of the spot. Then I put it in drive and hit the gas- and the…

I'm from Yellowknife, about 1000mi north of Ft McMurray. More often than not, we hit -45C with a windchill of ~ -60c. The coldest it's ever been up here was -52c in 1947, if I'm not mistaken..

You must love the cold. I cannot fathom living in an area like that.

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The partial pressure is too low: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/06/13/results-lab-experiment...

But you just need to lower the temperature another 20-40 degrees. It would still take some energy but since youre starting at such a low temp It would seem it would save a lot of energy.

The link is pretty convincing. What it amounts to is that there is so little CO2 in the air that sublimation into the air happens faster than any freezing out of the air.

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#33
In 1981 when I was just out of boot camp and waiting for BE/E school at Great Lakes, IL, we had to patrol the base for I think it was 4 hours. It was -80 F wind chill factor. I thought I was going to die. I can't imagine being somewhere where the normal temperature on a given day is that cold. The wind chill must be unbearable to be outside for long.

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#35
post #27
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm from Yellowknife, about 1000mi north of Ft McMurray. More often than not, we hit -45C with a windchill of ~ -60c. The coldest it's ever been up here was -52c in 1947, if I'm not mistaken..

I'm from Regina, Saskatchewan and for the first time in my life, I can honestly say that our mere -45 windchills don't sound so bad. :) Stay warm!!

Grew up in Saskatchewan as well (Prince Albert). So, so glad I live in Vancouver now. The people were great but the weather in PA was absolutely soul crushing throughout the winter. Vancouver rarely drops into the minus and we get maybe 1-2 snowfalls a year (which usually melt as it falls). Feel like it's the tropics over here whenever I get back from visiting family/friends in PA.

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#36
post #8

I can't imagine what that must be like. OTOH, I've been out in a few days where it was over 45C, and that's not pleasant either.

I've seen +47.8C (in Australia) and -45C (in northern Canada).

I'm still hoping for the full 100C temp swing, which I'm getting mighty close to :)

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#37
post #10

I've seen the wrong side of -40, when I was flying to work in Ft McMurray, Alberta for a consulting job. One time, I drew the short straw and had to go pick up our SUVs at the parking lot upon landing. They were outside, plugged in. The car started with the saddest sound I ever heard a mechanical thing make. I put it in reverse, hit the gas, and pulled out of the spot. Then I put it in drive and hit the gas- and the…

You didn't let it warm up? In the Yukon, it's critical you let your car warm up. A block heater, battery blanket and oil pan heater are all needed, but they're only heating the actual engine block. Think about how cold the oil in the transmission and diffs are.. let alone everything else. You also want to drive extremely smoothly and slowly for the first ~5 mins to let everything circulate and slowly warm up to runni…

My fave is when the wheels freeze to the ground; so when the noob guns it - since the truck seems reasonably warm, yet stuck - the drive shaft snaps. Depending which universal joint breaks, the flailing remains can cause impressive damage.

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#38

"thermometers don't use mercury" uhh... many of them do in fact use mercury..

Up here in the Yukon mercury thermometers aren't all that helpful because they only go to -40C.

It's fun when all the thermometers are pegged at -40C at midday in full sun, and you don't see them move for a week :)

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#39
post #31
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm from Yellowknife, about 1000mi north of Ft McMurray. More often than not, we hit -45C with a windchill of ~ -60c. The coldest it's ever been up here was -52c in 1947, if I'm not mistaken..

You must love the cold. I cannot fathom living in an area like that.

yeah, but it's a dry cold. Besides I don't mind the cold as much as I hate the darkness during the winter months.

Re: Google Doodle celebrates Canada’s coldest day, -63 ℃

#40
post #10

I've seen the wrong side of -40, when I was flying to work in Ft McMurray, Alberta for a consulting job. One time, I drew the short straw and had to go pick up our SUVs at the parking lot upon landing. They were outside, plugged in. The car started with the saddest sound I ever heard a mechanical thing make. I put it in reverse, hit the gas, and pulled out of the spot. Then I put it in drive and hit the gas- and the…

You didn't let it warm up? In the Yukon, it's critical you let your car warm up. A block heater, battery blanket and oil pan heater are all needed, but they're only heating the actual engine block. Think about how cold the oil in the transmission and diffs are.. let alone everything else. You also want to drive extremely smoothly and slowly for the first ~5 mins to let everything circulate and slowly warm up to runni…

The tires are going to be "square" for the first twenty minutes anyway, so unless you really enjoy having the fillings shaken out of your teeth...
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