Lewkowicz, Antoni G.

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.

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.