ABSTRACT: Coordinated quantitative studies on sediment fluxes and sediment budgets in changing cold environments – examples from three key test areas in Canada, Iceland and Norway and the potential generated by the coordinated application of methods and measuring techniques.

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Results from ongoing quantitative geomorphologic studies on sediment fluxes and sediment budgets in selected key test sites in Arctic Canada, sub-Arctic Iceland and sub-Arctic Norway are presented and discussed in the context of possible effects of projected climate change on present-day process frequencies, intensities, process rates and sediment budgets in sensitive cold environments. Cape Bounty is located in the Canadian High Arctic Archipelago and is representative of the low-relief, unglacierized landscape found in much of this region. Research is underway in paired watersheds with emphasis on suspended sediment delivery processes and fluxes, particulate and dissolved carbon and nutrient fluxes, and linkages between fluxes and periglacial slope processes, active layer disturbances, and hydrological routing. Additionally, each watershed drains into similar lakes that contain annually-laminated sediments that will provide long term measures of sediment and particulate organic material delivery. Fnjóskadalur is a representative U-shaped valley in sub-Arctic Northern Iceland and is characterized by a wide range of different denudative surface processes. Current research in this key test area is focused on (i) the analysis and quantification of sediment fluxes from slope processes, especially snow avalanches and debris flows, and (ii) the investigation of the magnitude-frequency relationship of snow avalanches anddebris flows. Currently applied methods cover topographical and geomorphologic (underlining erosion and accumulation areas, extreme reach of slope dynamics as well as their lateral spreading) purposes. The used dating techniques (phytogeographical techniques: vegetal cover, lichenometry, dendrochronology; weathering; tephrochronology) reveal the rhythms of present-day slope activity as well as during the Upper Holocene period.Erdalen is a characteristic and very steep U-shaped valley in the fjord landscape of western Norway (Nordfjord). The sub-Arctic Erdalen catchment is connected to the Jostedalsbreen ice cap and is in its uppermost areas glaciated. Current investigations in this key test site include the quantitative analysis of storage elements like talus cones, valley fillings and lake sediments by using different geophysical techniques, the year-round monitoring of meteorological parameters, ground temperature, permafrost,runoff, fluvial solute and sediment transport as well as the analysis of slope processes like rockfalls, avalanches and debris flows by combining different monitoring and dating techniques. The possible potential and expected benefit generated by coordinated data exchange and the unification of methods and techniques applied to long-term process monitoring/ analysis, the quantitative investigation of storage elements and for sediment budget studies in cold environments is presented. Comparable data sets generated in other cold environment key test sites in polar and alpine regions that follow the guidelinesand protocols provided in the SEDIFLUX Manual will be added to a metadatadatabase developed within the global I.A.G./A.I.G. SEDIBUD programme. The SEDIBUD metadata database will be used to model effects of projected climate change on solute fluxes, sediment fluxes and sediment budgets in sensitive cold environments worldwide.

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology