Author(s): Ross D. Brown; Claude R. Duguay; Barry E. Goodison; Terry D. Prowse; Bruce Ramsay; Anne E. Walker
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The ability to monitor the formation and decay of freshwater ice is of high interest in Canada because of the wide-ranging impacts (e. g. ecology, hydrology, recreation, transportation, safety), and the potential for inferring information on climate change over northern Canada which is data-sparse but lake-rich. Global Climate Model simulations suggest this area is likely to experience some of the largest warming in response to increasing levels of greenhouse gases. This paper provides a summary of Canada’s in situ and remotely sensed capabilities for monitoring freshwater ice, and the proposed strategy to meet national needs and international obligations such as the Global Climate Observing System. In addition, the paper presents an overview of a near real-time lake ice cover monitoring product developed by the Canadian Ice Service using AVHRR and RADARSAT for 136 lakes across North America. The paper also documents efforts at Laval University to develop an integrated lake ice database for Canada that incorporates in situ and remotely sensed data with climate data and information on lake characteristics. Plans to augment this freshwater-ice database with a companion set of river ice information being produced by the National Water Research Institute are also described.
Year: 2002