Hazards, Sea-level Rise, and Climate Change Impacts on Arctic Coasts
Principal Investigator: Forbes, Donald L (9)
Licence Number: 13759
Organization: Geological Survey of Canada
Licensed Year(s): 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Issued: Mar 11, 2005
Project Team: J.C. Laver

Objective(s): The western Canadian Arctic coast is one of the most rapidly changing coastlines in the world and one of the most vulnerable to climate change. The Geological Survey of Canada has been studying the processes governing coastal and nearshore stability. The primary objectives of the project are to: 1) monitor coastal stability and the processes which affect it (winds, waves, sea ice, etc); 2) map coastal features, sediment properties, and ice conditions in the nearshore regions of the Mackenzie Delta and at coastal monitoring sites; 3) monitor vertical ground motion (subsidence and uplift) both regionally and locally; and 4) study past rates of relative sea-level rise and estimate future rates of sea level rise in the region. In 2005, coastal surveys will take place near along the Mackenzie Delta in the areas of Garry Island, Ellice Island, several lakes in the outer delta, mouth of the East Channel at Kittigazuit, at Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour and west coast Banks Island, and various locations as determined by the results of the work done in 2004.