Climate forcing factors and the record of climatic variability in the western Canadian Arctic during the past 2000 years
Principal Investigator: Tomkins, Jessica (2)
Licence Number: 13750
Organization: Queens University, Dept. of Geography
Licensed Year(s): 2006 2005
Issued: Feb 14, 2005
Project Team: Dr. Scott

Objective(s): The working hypothesis of this study is that climatic variability in the western High Arctic and the factors influencing it can be identified and their changes over time can be examined by using the varved (annually-laminated) sedimentary record of a lake on Melville Island, NWT. The main objectives of this study are to 1) develop a 2000-year varve thickness record, 2) identify climatic influences on lake sedimentation by statistically comparing the varve measures to regional instrumental data, 3) reconstruct these climate parameters to examine their variability, and 4) compare the reconstructed records with those developed by a colleague from two lakes at Cape Bounty (115 km east) to determine the regional climate signal. The results of the study will provide more information about how the Canadian Arctic responds to climatic forcing (natural and human-induced) and how it may respond to future environmental change.