Impacts of Projected Global Warming: A Research Proposal for the Mackenzie Basin

• Main Authors: Cohen, S. J., Maxwell, J. B.
• Other Authors: CANADIAN CLIMATE CENTRE DOWNSVIEW (ONTARIO)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1992
• Subjects: Meteorology; Atmospheric Physics; Ecology; *GREENHOUSE EFFECT; *ECOLOGY; *ATMOSPHERICS; CIRCULATION; CLIMATE; COMMUNITIES; GLOBAL; HYDROLOGY; MODELS; PERMAFROST; SCENARIOS; TRANSPORTATION; VEGETATION; WILDLIFE; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; *Global climate change; Component Reports; *Global warming; Mackenzie Basin(Canada); Canada; Fairbanks; Mackenzie Basin; permafrost; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADP007287; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADP007287

As part of the Government of Canada's Green Plan, an assessment of the impacts of global warming scenarios in the Mackenzie Basin is being initiated by the Canadian Climate Centre (CCC). These scenarios include outputs from General Circulation Models, such as the new one produced by CCC, as well as arbitrary and other climate scenarios where possible. Hydrology, permafrost and other first-order physical impacts will be investigated. These will be linked to second-order biological studies describing impacts on vegetation, fire potential, terrestrial and freshwater wildlife. Third-order socioeconomic studies will consider activities of the native and non-native communities in the region, including energy, transportation, tourism and subsistence. An additional set of integration tasks will also be undertaken. Some of these and other issues will not easily lend themselves to quantitative investigation. Our ability to address these challenges will depend on the quality of researchers that would be willing to participate in this exercise. A multidisciplinary team is being established, utilizing the expertise and cooperation of many government and non-government entities with long-term interests in the Mackenzie. Information from ongoing programs will be combined with commissioned research. Most of the study tasks should begin during 1991, with the main study report due in 1996. This article is from 'Proceedings of the International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change Held in Fairbanks, Alaska on 11-15 June 1990. Volume 1', AD-A253 027, p200-204. See also Volume 2, AD-A253 028.