Changing Cold Environments A Canadian Perspective

by French, Hugh M.; Slaymaker, Olav

• ISBN13: 9780470699690
• ISBN10: 0470699698
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-11-07
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Changing Cold Environments; A Canadian Perspective is a comprehensive overview of the changing nature of the physical attributes of Canadas cold environments and the implications of these changes to cold environments on a global scale. The book places particular emphasis on the broader environmental science and sustainability issues that are of increasing concern to all cold regions if present global climate trends continue. Clearly structured throughout, the book focuses on those elements of Canadas cold environments that will be most affected by global climate change namely, the tundra, sub-arctic and boreal forest regions of northern Canada, and the high mid-latitude mountains of western Canada. The book considers the implications this will have for similar environments around the world.

Author Biography

Hugh French taught at The University of Ottawa, Canada, in the Departments of Geography (1967-2003), Geology (1982-1992) and Earth Sciences (1998-2003). He was President of the International Permafrost Association (1998-2003) and Editor-in-Chief of the Wiley Interscience journal Permafrost and Periglacial Processes (1990-2005). The Third Edition of his widely-used undergraduate text, The Periglacial environment, was published in January 2007 STD 692. He is now Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography, University of Victoria

Olav Slaymaker taught at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1964-1968) and at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Geography (1968-2004). He was President of the Canadian Association of Geographers (1991-1992), Editor in Chief of the interdisciplinary journal, Catena and President of the International Association of Geomorphologists. In 2007 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa by the University of Wales.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Glossary	p. xv
Spatial and Temporal Variability of Canada's Cold Environments	p. 1
Cold Canada and the Changing Cryosphere	p. 3
Introduction	p. 3
The Cryosphere	p. 4
Cold Canada	p. 10
Cold Climates	p. 15
Arctic and Alpine Considerations	p. 19
Canada's Physical Geography	p. 21
References	p. 24
Discussion Questions	p. 25
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 25
The Late Quaternary Glaciation of Northern Canada	p. 26
Introduction	p. 26
Landforms and the Late Quaternary Glaciations	p. 26
Late Quaternary Sea level Change and its Relationship to Glaciation History	p. 39
Late Quaternary Glaciation and Deglacial History	p. 39
Wider Implications of Canadian Arctic Ice Sheet Dynamics	p. 42
Holocene Glacial Events	p. 44
References	p. 44
Discussion Questions	p. 47
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 47
The Evolution of Polar Desert and Tundra Ecosystems	p. 48
Introduction	p. 48
The Nature of the Environment	p. 49
Ecology of Arctic Plants	p. 51
Vegetation Zonation	p. 53
Arctic Oases	p. 55
Long term Evolution of Canadian Arctic Ecosystems	p. 56
The Quaternary	p. 58
Postglacial Climate and Vegetation Change in Arctic Canada	p. 59
References	p. 61
Discussion Questions	p. 64
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 65
Remote Sensing and Canadian Snow Climatology	p. 66
Introduction	p. 66
The Importance of Snow in the Earth	p. System 66
Snow Measurements in Canada	p. 67
Remote Sensing of Snow	p. 70
Snow Variations Inferred from Remote Sensing Observations	p. 77
Discussion	p. 82
Conclusion	p. 82
References	p. 83
Discussion Questions	p. 86
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 86
The Changing Cryosphere	p. 87
The Changing Climates	p. 89
Introduction	p. 89
Late Pliocene	p. 89
Quaternary History	p. 90
Postglacial Conditions	p. 91
The Last Two Millennia	p. 92
Recent Changes	p. 94
The Future	p. 96
References	p. 101
Discussion Questions	p. 103
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 104
Snow and Runoff: Processes, Sensitivity and Vulnerability	p. 105
Introduction	p. 105
Snow Accumulation	p. 107
Land Cover	p. 109
Snow Ablation	p. 111
Snowmelt Runoff Processes	p. 113
Streamflow	p. 117
Snowmelt Floods in Large Basins	p. 118
Snow Vulnerability	p. 122
References	p. 123
Discussion Questions	p. 125
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 125
Permafrost Distribution and Stability	p. 126
Introduction	p. 126
Distribution of Permafrost	p. 130
Thermal Regime of Permafrost	p. 134
Permafrost and Climate Change	p. 136
Conclusions	p. 143
References	p. 143
Discussion Questions	p. 146
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 146
Sea Ice in Canada	p. 147
Introduction	p. 147
What is Sea Ice?	p. 147
The Physical Nature of Sea Ice	p. 148
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Sea Ice	p. 150
Sea Ice and Climate Change	p. 158
Implications for Northern Communities, Economic Development and the Environment	p. 160
References	p. 160
Discussion Questions	p. 162
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 162
Lake and River Ice in Canada	p. 163
Introduction	p. 163
Role in the Climate System	p. 168
Climatic Controls	p. 168
Historical Trends and Linkages to Climate	p. 169
Future Ice Regime Projections	p. 172
Implications of Ice Regime Changes	p. 173
References	p. 179
Discussion Questions	p. 181
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 181
The Ever-Changing Scenery	p. 183
Climate Change and the Central Canadian Treeline	p. 185
Introduction	p. 185
The Central Canadian Treeline Zone Today	p. 186
Current Warming at the Central Canadian Treeline	p. 188
Response of the Central Canadian Treeline to Warming Temperatures	p. 191
References	p. 195
Discussion Questions	p. 198
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 199
Geomorphic Change in Northern Canada	p. 200
Introduction	p. 200
Lessons from the Past	p. 202
Freezing, Thawing and Bedrock Instability	p. 205
Warming Permafrost	p. 205
Changes in Azonal Processes	p. 213
Geotechnical Implications of Warming Permafrost	p. 216
Conclusions	p. 217
References	p. 218
Discussion Questions	p. 221
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 221
Geomorphic Change in Canada's Temperate Mountains	p. 222
Introduction	p. 222
Present Morphology	p. 223
Spatial Variability of Ecology and Morphology	p. 224
Hydroclimate and Cryospheric Phenomena	p. 228
Rates and Kinds of Geomorphic Processes	p. 234
Disturbances Regimes and Landscape Transitions	p. 240
Conclusions	p. 242
References	p. 243
Discussion Questions	p. 246
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 246
Risk from Cold-climate Hazards in the Canadian Cordillera	p. 247
Introduction	p. 247
Cold-climate Hazards	p. 247
Risk and Climate Variability	p. 249
Conclusions	p. 264
References	p. 264
Discussion Questions	p. 266
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 266
Societal Aspects of Changing Cold Environments	p. 267
Introduction	p. 267
Cultural Pursuits and Indigenous Rights	p. 268
Local and Broader Implications of Changing Sea Ice	p. 281
Northern Governance	p. 292
Conclusions	p. 294
References	p. 295
Discussion Questions	p. 300
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 300
The Changing Canadian Cryosphere, Globalization and Global Environmental Change	p. 301
Introduction	p. 301
The Question of Scale	p. 302
Adaptive Management	p. 308
Globalization	p. 310
Conclusion	p. 310
References	p. 311
Discussion Questions	p. 312
Some Useful Internet Sources	p. 312
Index	p. 313
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