CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Forbes, A.; and Lamoureux, S.
Date : 2003.
Title : Climatic controls on streamflow and suspended sediment transport for several large Middle Arctic catchments, Boothia Peninsula, Nunavut.
Publication : Canadian Geophysical Union. Annual Meeting, May 10 -14, 2003. Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
Streamflow, suspended sediment transport and meteorological variables were measured during the 2001 and 2002 field seasons in order to determine the climatic controls on daily discharge and suspended sediment load for the Lord Lindsay River and two major tributaries (1450, 465 and 345 km 2 , respectively). Past studies have shown annual transfers of water and sediment to be most strongly influenced by either melt energy input or snowpack, while also being limited by the supply of sediment within the watershed. Preliminary analysis has demonstrated a strong linear relationship between daily mean air temperature and daily discharge through the snowmelt period and a non-linear relationship between discharge and suspended sediment transport throughout the streamflow season. High sediment transfer only occurred during the short-lived nival peak and the duration of the peak appears to be broadly scaled with catchment snow water equivalence. The catchments do not appear to experience intra-seasonal sediment hysteresis, but specific yields were some of the lowest recorded in the Arctic, ranging between 0.2 to 1.6 t·km -2 ·a -1 . This study demonstrates the sensitivity of medium to large sized Middle Arctic watersheds to both spring thermal and winter snowpack conditions and provides a basis for lake sediment interpretation for reconstructing past hydrological conditions.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology