The dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern Canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone
Northwestern Canada’s subarctic is among the most impacted regions in the world as it is experiencing rapid climatic and environmental change. As a result, northwestern Canada has been experiencing region-wide permafrost thaw and disappearance, both of which are also occurring at unprecedented rates...
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ftwlaurieruniv:oai:scholars.wlu.ca:etd-3696 2023-06-11T04:15:50+02:00 The dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern Canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone Carpino, Olivia 2023-01-01T08:00:00Z application/pdf https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2548 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3696&context=etd en eng Scholars Commons @ Laurier https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2548 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3696&context=etd 2 Publicly accessible Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive) permafrost thaw landscape transition climate change boreal forest wetland peatland Environmental Monitoring Hydrology Other Earth Sciences Other Environmental Sciences text 2023 ftwlaurieruniv 2023-04-23T16:36:15Z Northwestern Canada’s subarctic is among the most impacted regions in the world as it is experiencing rapid climatic and environmental change. As a result, northwestern Canada has been experiencing region-wide permafrost thaw and disappearance, both of which are also occurring at unprecedented rates. Permafrost temperatures in the Taiga Plains have been warming steadily over the last several decades, which has been particularly detrimental across its lower latitudes of the discontinuous permafrost zone where the permafrost is already relatively thin and warm. These factors indicate that permafrost in the southern Taiga Plains may be in a state of disequilibrium with the current climate. Permafrost degradation has important implications for wide-ranging boreal peatland landscapes and the associated local hydrology and ecology. Decreases in the area underlain by permafrost in these peatland complexes has resulted in a transformation from permafrost and forest-dominated landscapes to those that are wetland dominated. However, permafrost-free forested areas have also been observed following the loss of permafrost and the gradual drying and succession of the previously treeless bog landscape. This research first seeks to explore the trajectory of peatland landcover change following permafrost thaw by identifying unique landcovers that represent different thaw stages. Next, this research works to monitor peatland-dominated environments across the southernmost portion of the Taiga Plains by using near-annual imagery to quantify landcover changes that may be representative of permafrost thaw. Finally, this research aims to encapsulate the factors that contribute to permafrost presence or absence by proposing a permafrost index map across the southern Taiga Plains. Text permafrost Subarctic taiga Taiga plains Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario: Scholars Commons@Laurier Canada |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario: Scholars Commons@Laurier |
op_collection_id |
ftwlaurieruniv |
language |
English |
topic |
permafrost thaw landscape transition climate change boreal forest wetland peatland Environmental Monitoring Hydrology Other Earth Sciences Other Environmental Sciences |
spellingShingle |
permafrost thaw landscape transition climate change boreal forest wetland peatland Environmental Monitoring Hydrology Other Earth Sciences Other Environmental Sciences Carpino, Olivia The dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern Canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone |
topic_facet |
permafrost thaw landscape transition climate change boreal forest wetland peatland Environmental Monitoring Hydrology Other Earth Sciences Other Environmental Sciences |
description |
Northwestern Canada’s subarctic is among the most impacted regions in the world as it is experiencing rapid climatic and environmental change. As a result, northwestern Canada has been experiencing region-wide permafrost thaw and disappearance, both of which are also occurring at unprecedented rates. Permafrost temperatures in the Taiga Plains have been warming steadily over the last several decades, which has been particularly detrimental across its lower latitudes of the discontinuous permafrost zone where the permafrost is already relatively thin and warm. These factors indicate that permafrost in the southern Taiga Plains may be in a state of disequilibrium with the current climate. Permafrost degradation has important implications for wide-ranging boreal peatland landscapes and the associated local hydrology and ecology. Decreases in the area underlain by permafrost in these peatland complexes has resulted in a transformation from permafrost and forest-dominated landscapes to those that are wetland dominated. However, permafrost-free forested areas have also been observed following the loss of permafrost and the gradual drying and succession of the previously treeless bog landscape. This research first seeks to explore the trajectory of peatland landcover change following permafrost thaw by identifying unique landcovers that represent different thaw stages. Next, this research works to monitor peatland-dominated environments across the southernmost portion of the Taiga Plains by using near-annual imagery to quantify landcover changes that may be representative of permafrost thaw. Finally, this research aims to encapsulate the factors that contribute to permafrost presence or absence by proposing a permafrost index map across the southern Taiga Plains. |
format |
Text |
author |
Carpino, Olivia |
author_facet |
Carpino, Olivia |
author_sort |
Carpino, Olivia |
title |
The dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern Canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone |
title_short |
The dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern Canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone |
title_full |
The dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern Canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone |
title_fullStr |
The dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern Canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone |
title_full_unstemmed |
The dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern Canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone |
title_sort |
dynamic relationship between permafrost and landcover in northwestern canada’s discontinuous permafrost zone |
publisher |
Scholars Commons @ Laurier |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2548 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3696&context=etd |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
permafrost Subarctic taiga Taiga plains |
genre_facet |
permafrost Subarctic taiga Taiga plains |
op_source |
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive) |
op_relation |
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2548 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3696&context=etd |
op_rights |
2 Publicly accessible |
_version_ |
1768372994607939584 |