3. “ For anyone who thinks that climate science must
be impeachable to be useful, the past few months
have been a depressing time.
”
The Economist
Mar 20 2010
4. 3 Ottawa has warmed by approximately 1°C since the late 1800s.
2
1
0 1971-2000 average
-1
-2
-3
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
source: Adjusted Historical Canadian Climate Data, Environment Canada
5. Trend in annual temperature, 1900 - 2008
source: Goddard Institute for Space Studies, NASA degrees Celsius
6. The evidence for climate change is NOT just measurements of air temperature
7. Maximum sea ice extent
September 2009
median sea ice extent
1979-2009
source: National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado
16. Earth Science Sector - Program Activity Architecture
CHALLENGE
Develop and apply Earth Science to respond
to the effects of climate change and address
risks to infrastructure and communities
17.
18. AGENCY PARTNERS
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
Canadian Institute of Planners
Parks Canada Toronto Public Health
Department of Defense Halifax Port Authority
Indian and Northern A airs International Joint Commission
Canada-Nunavut
Geoscience O ce
Nunavut
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
British Columbia
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Pangnirtung
Vancouver
Clyde River
Iqaluit
Arctic Bay
Greater Toronto
Resolute
SCIENCE PARTNERS
Repulse Bay
INDUSTRY PARTNERS Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Kugaaruk
Manitoba Hydro US Geological Survey Arviat
Hydro Quebec Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change Gjoa Haven
Seabridge Gold World Meteorological Organization Pond Inlet
Purcell Green Power Université Laval
Memorial University
20. EARTH SCIENCE
✓shows us how climate change is a ecting critical
landscapes and natural resources
21. EARTH SCIENCE
✓shows us how climate change is a ecting critical
landscapes and natural resources
✓gives us a broader perspective on contemporary
environmental and resource issues
22. EARTH SCIENCE
✓shows us how climate change is a ecting critical
landscapes and natural resources
✓gives us a broader perspective on contemporary
environmental and resource issues
✓helps us understand the past so that we can make
better plans for the future
31. “ [Future sea-level rise] could have signi cant
consequences for areas currently protected by
dikes (such as the Fraser and Squamish deltas),
where coastal erosion is already an issue
(eastern Graham Island, Haida Gwaii), or where
development and harbour infrastructure is
close to present high tide limits.
”
GOVERNMENT PARTNER
Government of
British Columbia
33. “ ...communities in the Canadian Arctic may experience
continuing sea-level fall, or, at most, reduced levels
of sea-level rise compared to the global average.
”
James, T.S., Simon, K.M, Forbes, D,L.and Dyke, A.S. (2009)
Sea-level Projections for Five Pilot Communities of the
Nunavut Climate Change Partnership. Draft report
submitted to the Canadian Institute of Planners, 25 p.
44. Satellite observations show
Arctic ‘greening’ since the mid 1980s
Pouliot, D., R. Latifovic, and I. Olthof (2009)
International Journal of Remote Sensing
50. water gained or lost (mm) from High Arctic glaciers
2,500
Devon Meighen Melville Agassiz White
0
-2,500
-5,000
-7,500
-10,000
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
51. AGENCY PARTNERS
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
Canadian Institute of Planners
Parks Canada Toronto Public Health
Department of Defense Halifax Port Authority
Indian and Northern A airs International Joint Commission
Canada-Nunavut
Geoscience O ce
Nunavut
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
British Columbia
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Pangnirtung
Vancouver
Clyde River
Iqaluit
Arctic Bay
Greater Toronto
Resolute
SCIENCE PARTNERS
Repulse Bay
INDUSTRY PARTNERS Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Kugaaruk
Manitoba Hydro US Geological Survey Arviat
Hydro Quebec Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change Gjoa Haven
Seabridge Gold World Meteorological Organization Pond Inlet
Purcell Green Power Université Laval
Memorial University
61. Long-term records demonstrate that the southern Prairies
are vulnerable to ‘wind droughts’
✓ Six major ‘wind droughts’ since 1954
✓ Slow-downs persisted for 8 to 13 months
✓ Strongest events a ected most of western Canada
62.
63. “ [The next strong El Niño] ... may also test the ability of
Prairie wind farms to maintain expected energy outputs
during a prolonged interval of unusually weak winds.
”
Geophysical Research Letters
December 2009
65. “ And separately, we are seeing strong El Niño conditions.
This has the seasonal impact of reducing wind supply
compared to previous years.
”
Stephen Snyder
President and Chief Executive O cer
February 24, 2010
66. Earth Science Sector - Program Activity Architecture
CHALLENGE
Develop and apply Earth Science to respond
to the effects of climate change and address
risks to infrastructure and communities
67. The Earth Sciences provide a unique perspective on our dynamic and changing landscape