| Title | Using social media to gather and share information on the Mackenzie-Beaufort ice break-up |
| |
| Author | Forbes, D L ;
Fraser, P; Lam, J; Whalen, D |
| Source | Arctic Change 2020 Conference book of abstracts/Compilation de résumés pour la Conférence Arctic; by ArcticNet; Arctic Science vol. 7, no. 1, 2021 p. 24, https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2021-0001  Open Access |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2021 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20200763 |
| Publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| Meeting | Arctic Change 2020 Conference; December 7-10, 2020 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Northern offshore region; Northwest Territories; Yukon |
| NTS | 107; 117 |
| Area | Mackenzie Delta; Beaufort Sea |
| Lat/Long WENS | -141.0000 -128.0000 71.0000 68.0000 |
| Subjects | Nature and Environment; Science and Technology; Information and Communications; geophysics; Health and Safety; sea ice; floods; flood potential; water levels; field data methods; remote sensing;
satellite imagery; photography; Social media; Community partnerships; Northern Canada; Northerners; Emergency preparedness |
| Program | Climate Change Geoscience Coastal Infrastructure |
| Released | 2021 03 15 |
| Abstract | The spring ice break-up in the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea takes place in May-June every year. The timing of break-up and levels of spring freshet flooding are always on the minds of residents in
the Mackenzie-Beaufort region during this season of rapid change. Since 2006, the Geological Survey of Canada has been distributing a spring ice breakup newsletter to inform the local community and stakeholders on the current ice conditions and water
levels on a near-real-time basis. Three years ago, in collaboration with community members and other partners, the Joint Secretariat started a public Facebook group (Mackenzie-Beaufort Break-up). This was to allow for community co-production of
knowledge and posting of observations in real-time during the break-up season. To date, a total of over 1100 people are registered for the group, with 61% (677) from the Mackenzie-Beaufort region and 73% from the Northwest Territories and Yukon.
Membership grew by 43% from mid-April to mid-June 2020. Created and managed by northerners, this on-line group is a venue for sharing time-critical information among community members in the Delta region. The information is important to many people
for real-time awareness of rapidly changing ice conditions, high water, and flooding. Photos, video, and other observations posted on the group have also provided additional information to validate interpretations of satellite imagery and real-time
water-level data. With such a large membership across the region, the group forms an effective network for sharing situational awareness among community members and emergency managers on the break-up progression and flooding potential at any given
time, as occurred during flooding in the Mackenzie Delta in 2020. For these reasons, this approach to break-up knowledge co-production may provide an example for similar initiatives in other regions. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The spring ice break-up in the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea takes place in May-June every year. Since 2006, the Geological Survey of Canada has been
distributing a spring ice break-up newsletter to inform the local community and stakeholders on the current ice conditions and water levels on a near real-time basis. The information is important to many people for real-time awareness of rapidly
changing ice conditions, high water, and flooding. Photos, video, and other observations posted on the group have also provided additional information to validate interpretations of satellite imagery and real-time water-level data. Three years ago,
in collaboration with community members and other partners, the Joint Secretariat started a public Facebook group (Mackenzie-Beaufort Break-up). This was to allow for community co-production of knowledge and posting of observations in real-time
during the break-up season. To date, a total of over 1100 people are registered for the group, with 61% (677) from the Mackenzie-Beaufort region and 73% from the Northwest Territories and Yukon. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 328144 |
|
|