CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Brooks, G.R.
Date : 2001.
Title : Streamflow in the Mackenzie valley.
Publication : The Physical Environment of the Mackenzie Valley: a Baseline for the Assessment of Environmental Change, Edited by: L.D. Dyke and G.R. Brooks. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin
Issue : 547:
Page(s) : 153-158.
Abstract
Rivers in the Mackenzie valley generally exhibit a spring-snowmelt dominated mean monthly flow pattern classified as a subarctic, nival flow regime. Along the Mackenzie River, ice jamming during spring breakup is an important process since it can obstruct flow locally and elevate river stage to flood levels. Flow along the large tributary rivers draining the Mackenzie Mountains to the west of the Mackenzie River can rise and fall rapidly in response to rain storms and diurnal snow melt. Global climatic change may result in an increase in the magnitude and frequency of extreme floods, in common with mid-latitude rivers. Some hydraulic modelling suggests that precipitation, and therefore runoff, will increase, but other models indicate that the increased precipitation will be offset by greater evapotranspirtion. Considerably more immediate and drastic changes to the flow regime of a given river could arise from dam construction for hydroelectric generation.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology