Abstracts

Land Use and Other Responses to Landscape Hazards in Northern Regions

Kenneth Johnson
Cryofront Journal of Cold Region Technology
ken.johnson@cryofront.com

The responses to the landscape hazards of flooding, erosion, and landslides have been taking shape in the northern territories of Canada over the past 40 years, as a number of catastrophic and repeating events have necessitated scientific and administrative action. Several of the better known northern events in the past 4 decades have included the 1968 catastrophic landslide in Fort Smith, which destroyed 3 homes and claimed one life, and the annual ice jam flooding of Hay River, which has damaged many homes over the years.

The responses to these particular events have been comprehensive scientific and engineering studies of the events, and potential mitigative action. Equally important to the "science and applied science" associated with the landscape hazards, has been the administrative responses in the form of zoning documentation and mapping to protect life and property.

A renewed interest in these landscape hazards, which includes permafrost, is also occurring as the science and documentation of climate change in a northern context expands. The scientific community has concluded that the northern latitudes will be a "hot spot" of climate change in the coming decades, which will significantly impact built environments in many northern communities, and hence impose a significant financial burden as the communities investigate and implement mitigative measures.

2005-04-05