| Title | Topographic LiDAR - providing a new perspective in the Mackenzie Delta |
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| Author | Whalen, D ;
Forbes, D; Hopkinson, C; Lavergne, J C; Manson, G; Marsh, P;
Solomon, S |
| Source | Proceedings, 30th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing; by CSRS; 2009 p. 160 |
| Links | Online - En ligne (presentation, PDF
690 KB)
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| Links | Abstracts volume
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| Year | 2009 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20090126 |
| Publisher | Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) |
| Meeting | 30th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing; Lethbridge; CA; June 22-26, 2009 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | CD-ROM; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Northwest Territories; Yukon |
| NTS | 107A; 107B; 107C; 107D; 117A; 117D |
| Area | Mackenzie Delta |
| Lat/Long WENS | -140.0000 -128.0000 70.0000 68.0000 |
| Subjects | geophysics; surficial geology/geomorphology; Nature and Environment; remote sensing; floods; flood plains; flood potential |
| Program | Environmental Geoscience environmental impacts and adaptation in the northern environment |
| Released | 2009 01 01 |
| Abstract | Topographic LiDAR is being used to map flooding hazards along the Beaufort Sea coast, in particular on the outer Mackenzie Delta. Flooding can be caused by storm surges anywhere along the coast and by
high river discharge or backwater at spring breakup. LiDAR data are ideal for feature recognition and quantification, providing small-scale geomorphological and depositional details within a larger-scale context. The identification and formation of
coastal and river levees, crevasses, secondary channels, and floodplain topography can be useful in determining flooding thresholds, inundation pathways, and drainage patterns. Indicators of past flooding events such as lines of driftwood debris,
dead vegetation patterns and the accumulation of alluvial material inland can also be detected through the topographic LiDAR data. Due to the relatively flat nature of much of the low-lying modern Mackenzie Delta, slight increases in water levels can
produce extensive additional flooding inland. Flood-simulation models based on LiDAR digital elevation models can show the potential for inland flooding for a given storm-surge water level at the coast. The intensity and severity of coastal flood
hazards in this region are expected to increase over the next century due to climate warming, land subsidence, accelerated sea-level rise, and a possible reduction in sea ice. In this context, it is important to develop a better understanding of
flood hazards under present conditions. Information derived from LiDAR datasets provide a new perspective for this poorly mapped region, which will ultimately help to better understand the effects of global climate change and constraints on
industrial development in a high-latitude deltaic and coastal setting. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 247641 |
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