| Title | Monitoring and assessing coastal change in the Canadian Arctic |
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| Author | Taylor, R; Forbes, D ; Frobel, D; Manson, G; Solomon, S; Whalen, D |
| Source | Sustaining Arctic observing networks, poster abstracts; 2008 p. 13-14 |
| Links | Online - En ligne
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| Year | 2008 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20080092 |
| Meeting | Second International Polar Year Workshop on Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON); Edmonton; CA; April 9-11, 2008 |
| Document | book |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | digital; on-line |
| Province | Nunavut |
| Area | High Arctic |
| Subjects | environmental geology; surficial geology/geomorphology; geophysics; Nature and Environment; arctic geology; glacier surveys; glaciers; ice; coastal environment; coastal studies; coastal erosion;
shorelines; shoreline changes; satellite imagery; remote sensing; bathymetry |
| Program | Climate Change Geoscience Coastal Infrastructure |
| Released | 2008 01 01 |
| Abstract | The Canadian Arctic hosts one of the most diverse and extensive polar coasts in the world. It has a long history of human occupation based predominantly on marine resources. The Inuit and Inuvialuit
population of the Canadian Arctic is concentrated in more than 40 communities which are almost exclusively coastal. Apart from inland mines, almost all industrial, transportation, military, and research infrastructure is located on or close to the
coast. Climate-change impacts in the Canadian Arctic involve a number of factors affecting coastal stability. Coastal erosion contributes to the Arctic marine carbon budget and contaminant loading.
The Geological Survey of Canada (Natural
Resources Canada) is the only federal organization that has conducted long-term repetitive surveys of shoreline changes in northern Canada. Observations at 24 sites span more than 25 years. More than 280 sites have been occupied and surveyed in an
east -west transect across the Canadian Arctic to document regional variations in shoreline character, stability and thermal regime. Airborne video surveys complement the ground surveys. These aerial surveys cover 6000 km of coastline, some
repetitive over time. They help to fill a gap in repetitive vertical air photography in the Arctic (outside communities) since the late
1950s. Recent availability of high-resolution satellite imagery (pixel size <1 m) in a number of places
including most communities has provided new opportunities for coastal change detection.
Other satellite and airborne sensors, including synthetic aperture radar and LiDAR, have been used in some areas to document changes in shoreline
position, coastal topography, and hazards from storm-surge flooding, wave run-up, and sea-ice interaction with the coast. Limited shallowwater charting, including some multibeam bathymetry, has been undertaken in recent years, in partnership with the
Canadian Hydrographic Service and university partners in the ArcticNet Network of Centres of Excellence.
Baseline information from coastal monitoring has contributed to scientific understanding of coastal change and hazard processes at high
latitudes. It has supported Canadian contributions to international initiatives and assessments such as Arctic Coastal Dynamics (ACD), the
circumpolar Arctic Coastal Observatories Network (ACCO-Net) under IPY, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
(ACIA), and assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Coastal monitoring results have contributed to environmental assessment and engineering design for major resource developments and to marine oil spill response and
planning strategies, which become more critical with increased shipping in Arctic waters. Results of coastal monitoring have also enabled provision of advice to Parks Canada, territorial agencies, and co-management boards regarding erosion threats to
archaeological and other cultural heritage sites. Current program objectives include the integration of scientific data and insights into regional and local planning for climate-change adaptation in Nunavut and other jurisdictions.
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collaboration with community partners and links to ArcticNet and IPY projects focused on community impacts, adaptation and resilience are leading to new opportunities for communitybased coastal monitoring. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 225156 |
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