TER01-Northern Rivers Hydrological Processes

Northern river systems are significantly affected by altered seasonal precipitation patterns caused by climate change. This results in extreme hydrological conditions that affect northern communities, energy production, and the transportation infrastructure between these communities. In recent years, northern rivers have seen record low and record high flows, disastrous ice jams, and threatening mid-winter icing conditions, all of which disrupted the supply of goods through a vulnerable road system and directly impacting the integrity and operation of critical infrastructure. This session emphasizes physical processes as they relate to the hydrological cycle as well as the consequence of climate change on northern communities located along rivers and lakes. It includes the challenges associated with quantifying flows in sub-arctic and arctic rivers, a description of known and expected changes to the hydrological cycle of northern river systems, case studies of recent floods, and the consequence of hydrological extremes on existing and planned infrastructure.  

Co-Chairs: 

Benoit Turcotte, Yukon University
François Rainville, Environment and Climate Change Canada