Benkert, Bronwyn

"Northern Canadian communities are at the forefront of climate change. Permafrost thaw is one of the major threats that they face. Many communities, particularly those within the discontinuous permafrost zone, have ground temperatures just below 0ºC. This makes them particularly susceptible to permafrost thaw under a changing climate. Permafrost thaw and the resulting ground shifting and changes in hydrology in these areas may have broad-reaching consequences for people's ability to travel on the land and on roads, access to traditional food sources, and stability of infrastructure, among other things. This report focuses on the effect of permafrost thaw on the stability of buildings operated by Government of Yukon in Ross River, a small community in south-central Yukon" -- from Introduction.

This project investigates contemporary landscape hazards related to permafrost degradation in Burwash Landing and Destruction Bay, Yukon. It also considers potential impacts of a changing climate on the local landscape. The work is accomplished by conducting surficial geological mapping and gathering geoscience data, including landscape metrics, permafrost conditions and hydrology. Projections of future climate variability (e.g., temperature and precipitation) for the region are used to identify potential future trajectories of change. Based on these data, landscape hazards are ranked in four categories, varying from no risk to high risk, and are represented graphically (in stoplight colours) on maps covering the study area. By incorporating projections of future climate variability, landscape hazards classification reflects both contemporary and potential future conditions.

Climate change is a significant challenge for northern communities, where the impacts of a warming climate are already having considerable effects (Huntington and Weller, 2005). Many people living in small, isolated communities in northern Yukon are concerned about climate-related risks in their regions. Because adverse impacts are a reality, it is important to implement measures to reduce or moderate the negative effects of climate change – in other words, to implement climate change adaptation strategies.

Climate change is a significant challenge for northern communities, where the impacts of a warming climate are already having considerable effects (Huntington and Weller, 2005). Many people living in small, isolated communities in northern Yukon are concerned about climate-related risks in their regions. Because adverse impacts are a reality, it is important to implement measures to reduce or moderate the negative effects of climate change – in other words, to implement climate change adaptation strategies.

The objective of this project was to identify landscape hazards in the Village of Mayo and nearby surroundings by compiling geoscience data from various field studies and scientific reviews (surficial geology, permafrost and hydrology). This data was used to create a map of landscape hazards that delineate low, moderate and high-risk areas in the Mayo region. Potential impacts of a changing climate were incorporated in the identification of these three hazard regions.

The objective of this project was to identify landscape hazards in Pelly Crossing and nearby surroundings by compiling geoscience data from various field studies and scientific reviews (i.e., surficial geology and hydrology). This data was used to create a map of landscape hazards that delineate low, moderate and high-risk areas in the Pelly Crossing region. Potential impacts of a changing climate were incorporated in the identification of these three hazard zones.

Climate change is a significant challenge for northern communities, where the impacts of a warming climate are already having considerable effects (Huntington and Weller, 2005). Many people living in small, isolated communities in northern Yukon are concerned about climate-related risks in their regions. Because adverse impacts are a reality, it is important to implement measures to reduce or moderate the negative effects of climate change – in other words, to implement climate change adaptation strategies.

Yukon, Alaska and northern British Columbia depend heavily on road transportation to link communities and connect industrial activities to international markets. The Alaska Highway is the central transportation corridor in Yukon. It is crucial to maintaining and expanding economic development, the quality of life of the population and international ties. In the context of current and anticipated climate change, permafrost temperature has warmed significantly in northern territories and is expected to continue to rise (SNAP 2014). The stability of northern transportation infrastructure may be compromised by changes in permafrost, particularly in areas where the soil contains large amounts of ice. This may lead to negative impacts on economic development, including increasing the complexity and cost of road maintenance and the price of shipping goods in the North.

Climate change is a significant challenge for northern communities, where the impacts of a warming climate are already having considerable effects (Huntington and Weller, 2005). Many people living in small, isolated communities in northern Yukon are concerned about climate-related risks in their regions. Because adverse impacts are a reality, it is important to implement measures to reduce or moderate the negative effects of climate change – in other words, to implement climate change adaptation strategies.

In cold climates such as central and northern Yukon, construction at a site must account for permafrost characteristics and implement design adaptations to ensure the resilience of the infrastructure, or risk costly repairs and interruption to services. The proposed fibre optic link from Inuvik to Dawson City will cross a vast area of permafrost. The challenges associated with construction of this line will be compounded because the cable is buried and because the infrastructure crosses hundreds of kilometres of terrain where there is little known about the nature of the permafrost. Existing highway infrastructure in the region is already affected by permafrost degradation.