CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Gagnon, A.; and Gough, W.A.
Date : 2004.
Title : Variability and long-term trends of the Hudson Bay ice cover.
Publication : 100th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers. 14-19 March 2004, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
The presence of seasonally varying sea ice in Hudson Bay plays a pivotal role in determining the climate of the Hudson Bay region. In this paper, the variability of the maximum ice thickness and that of its time occurrence are examined as a way to provide evidence of climate change in this region. The ice cover of Hudson Bay goes through a complete cryogenic cycle each year. Freeze-up typically occurs in October/November, the ice cover reaches its peak ice thickness in April/May, and break-up is usually complete in early August. The maximum ice thickness and its corresponding time occurrence were identified for each year from the weekly ice observations provided by the Canadian Ice Service. The non-parametric Mann-Kendall test was used to determine the statistical significance of the trends and their magnitude was estimated using the Theil-Sen method. Our results indicate an asymmetry in the ice thickness trends; the ice cover has become thicker over time over the western side of Hudson Bay, while slightly thinning trends and significant trends towards an earlier occurrence of the peak ice thickness were detected on the eastern side. This asymmetry in the ice thickness record of Hudson Bay is related to the variability of air temperature, snowfall, and the dates of ice freeze-up and break-up as a way to provide explanations for the trends detected.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology