CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Gajewski, K.; Peros, M.; Finkelstein, S.; and Fortin, M.
Date : 2009.
Title : Holocene paleoclimate of the Canadian Arctic Islands: The ACVAST project.
Publication : PAGES News
Issue : 17(1):
Page(s) : 11-13.
Abstract
Multi-proxy studies of a series of lakes across the Canadian Arctic Islands are providing the first continuous and quantitative estimates of Holocene climate variability for the region. These new results greatly improve previous estimates of the spatial and temporal extent of early Holocene warmth and subsequent cooling in the Arctic (e.g., Gajewski and Atkinson, 2003; Kaufman et al., 2004). Although the number of paleoenvironmental reconstructions in the Canadian Arctic has increased, the site density is still low, and more replication, especially of high temporal-resolution data for the early and mid-Holocene, is needed to quantify the spatial differences in climate and local effects of Holocene climatic changes on ecosystems. In addition, other issues remain, including (a) the need for more modern calibration data and consolidation of existing datasets to improve our ability to reconstruct past climate variables, (b) the need for better taxonomic harmonization across datasets, and (c) difficulties with radiocarbon dating, which in the Canadian Arctic is hampered by a lack of suitable organic material of terrestrial origin and the presence of widespread carbonate bedrock (Gajewski et al., 1995). Despite these challenges, our knowledge of environmental change in the Canadian Arctic has greatly improved and with additional research, a deeper understanding of this important region will no doubt be realized.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology