CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Bouchard, M.
Date : 2001.
Title : The complex environmental challenge of the 21st century in Canada: Identification and understanding of the response of the environments facing global climatic changes.
Publication : The Canadian Geographer
Issue : 45(1):
Page(s) : 54-70.
Abstract
Environmental changes due to global climatic changes will be a major issue for Canada during the 21st century. The effects of new climactic conditions are still difficult to assess. Global Circulation Models (GCM) simulate the effects of increased greenhouse gases on climate, but will need to be supplemented by Regional Climate Models (RCM) since their scale is not quite appropriate. Field controls such as instrumental climate records and glacier mass balance studies help refine model predictions. On a countrywide scale CCM's predict increased temperatures, but these are quite variable on a regional scale. Volume and distribution of wafer will be modified and increased aridity could be critical in some Prairie areas. Extreme events, which are not taken into account by GCMs, could be more frequent, with serious negative effects. Biomes will shift northward and the forest industry will have to adapt its practices quickly. These changes will also affect carbon cycles, due to increased decoy of forest biomass and also drying out of bogs. Warming trends will be even more accute in northern areas, and will provoke permafrost degradation, development of thermokarsts and soil instability. A sea-level rise is anticipated, which will make the coasts of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia vulnerable to submersion risks. Agriculture will have to adapt to an increased length of growing season, but also to dry spells, much more accute during summer time. The importance of climate change and its impacts on environment are still not well known, which hinders adaptive measures, but some economic sectors cannot really wait for an absolute certainty and must react now, which is the case of the forestry industry. Finally, social issues cannot be ignored. What will be the reaction of the population in the case where government promotes adaptation measures? How will the Canadian population welcome economic/environmental refugees coming from poor countries, which will be more affected than will Canada by climate change, with expected drops in food
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology