Landscape Hazards in Yukon Communities
Geological Mapping for Climate Change Adaptation Planning
About the project
Landscape Hazards in Yukon Communities is a one-year project aimed at identifying potential landscape hazards for two communities in the Yukon: Mayo and Pelly Crossing. This project has developed community-scale surficial geology maps, community-specific climate change projections, and summaries of the existing surface materials and the likely responses of the landscape to a changing climate.
Climate change may affect the landscape and geological processes (i.e. melting permafrost, increased/decreased rain and snow, higher/lower peak flow in rivers, etc.) in Yukon communities. Surficial geological mapping can identify potential landscape hazards (floods, landslides, unstable ground) and describe how different materials and landforms might respond to changes in climate. Surficial geology maps also provide baseline information about the landscape for ongoing and future municipal and regional planning and development.
Methodology
- Compile existing data from sub-surface boreholes, water wells and test pits.
- Collect new data on surface materials by looking at existing exposures (gravel pits, river banks, etc.), and collecting small samples (< 1m) for grain size analysis.
- Where possible, characterize flood frequency history or hazard risk using dating methods such as radiocarbon analysis.
- Evaluate potential landscape hazards based on surface materials and projected climate change scenarios.
Partners
This project is conducted by the Northern Climate ExChange (Yukon College) in collaboration with the Yukon Geological Survey (Government of Yukon), and is funded by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).