CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Abeysirigunawardena, D.S.; and Walker, I.J.
Date : 2005.
Title : Signals of the future? Meteorological and oceanographic responses to climate change along the north coast of British Columbia.
Publication : Proceedings of the 12th Canadian Coastal Conference. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. November 6-9, 2005.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
Results are presented from ongoing research on climate variability and change impacts on the north coast of British Columbia (CCIAP Project A580, NE Graham Island, Haida Gwaii - Queen Charlotte Islands). Climatic and oceanographic responses are characterized by examining long-term sea level, wave and meteorological datasets from several locations in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Simple linear regression models reveal long-term increasing trends in mean sea level (MSL) of +1.6 mm a-1 and maximum annual sea level of +3.4 mm a-1. This latter trend is approximately twice that of the MSL trend and reflects the increasing influence of known, shorter-term climate variability patterns such as the El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Interdecadal Oscillation (PDO) on storm surge occurrence. This is confirmed by: i) strong correlations between positive/ warm ENSO (El Niño) seasons and above average extreme water levels and, ii) a distinct shift in wind climatology toward enhanced SE storm winds since the positive/warm PDO regime shift of the late 1970s.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology