Impacts of Severe Arctic Storms and Climate Change on Arctic Coastal Oceanographic Processes

• Main Authors: Perrie, William, Gyakum, John R., Solomon, Steve, Tang, Charles
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Cryospheric Information Network 2012
• Subjects: Coastal dynamics; Fluxes; Ice; Modeling; Snow; Storm surge; Wave parameters; Waves; Wind direction; Wind speed; International Polar Year-Impacts of severe Arctic storms and climate change on Arctic oceanographic processes; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Pacific; Mackenzie Delta; Tuktoyaktuk; Beaufort Sea; Chukchi; Climate change; International Polar Year; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5443/11417; https://www.polardata.ca/pdcsearch/?doi_id=11417

In terms of verification of model results with field data, we have built and verified detailed coupled models with components for atmosphere, ice, snow, waves and ocean. These models have been used and tested for time-scales that are appropriate for individual Arctic storms, days, weeks, months, years and decadal scales. Baseline runs, and verification of these models use comparisons with internationally accepted Arctic data-sets, and climate reanalysis data. We have developed new collaborations with researchers making field experiments, and we used their data in our model validation studies. In terms of model skill in storm simulations, we have implemented and tested high-resolution models to simulate interactions including waves, ice, currents, sediment transport and coastal ocean processes. Tests involved specific storms that made landfall along the southern Beaufort coast impacting communities in that region. Thus, we assessed the benefits of high-resolution coupled ice-ocean-wave studies and detailed air-sea interactions. Specifically, our studies demonstrated problems in standard wave model physics, related to waves in the nearshore region, off the Mackenzie Delta. Further development work on wave-bottom and wave-dissipative mechanisms is needed to achieve better model skill. In terms of seasonal to decadal climate simulations, we were able to simulate decadal ice variations, including the rapid ice decrease in recent years, and long-time scale variables such as the salinity minimum in the Beaufort Sea, warm Atlantic water layer in the Arctic Ocean, the maximum fresh water content in the Beaufort Sea and its interannual variations during 2003-2008. We have identified key atmospheric patterns associated with strong wind events along the Beaufort Sea coast. We have also comprehensively documented the wind climatology during the warm season at the coastal station, at Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. Meteorological processes contributing to significant storm surge events are being documented. Our research has shown the importance of explosive cyclogenesis in the North-eastern Pacific basin, as being crucial for the development of a synoptic-scale environment that is favourable for the development of cyclogenesis in the Beaufort Sea. : Purpose: The focus of this project is to understand coastal oceanographic processes in the southern Beaufort Sea, and the west Canadian Arctic, driven by intense storms and severe weather. This area is important because the use of the coastal marine and terrestrial environment by Canadian Northerners is an integral part of their life style, because of coastal erosion processes, related to marine storms that tend to be getting stronger. The area is undergoing hydrocarbon exploration with potential development of the nearshore within the next decade. We are making detailed studies of coastal oceanographic processes, including waves, storm surge and ocean currents, marine winds, and related nearshore coastal erosion and sediment transport effects. Changes and variability in storm tracks and intensity, associated with climate change and warming in the Beaufort-Chukchi region, can endanger coastal settlements and the expected use of coastal marine environments. Weather and climate have impacts on sediment transport, coastal erosion, waves and storm surges, which in turn impact coastal communities, lifestyle, aquatic species, and activities related to offshore resource development. Important time-scales range from a few days, for storms, to seasonal, inter-annual, decadal, and longer, in order to investigate possible climate change and variations. Important processes include changing ice cover and expanding open water surfaces, including sea ice, waves and currents. : Summary: The Arctic Ocean is an important part of coastal life, for both people and animals, in the Canadian North. However, coastal areas are changing, often through the effect of weather on coastal environments. This project is looking at the interaction between weather and ocean processes. Specifically, it looks at how storms, severe weather and the action of waves may affect coastal erosion and sediments. With the climate changing, models to predict how changes in coastal processes will affect coastal terrain are being developed. This will provide important information to communities living on the Arctic coastline.