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Spatial variability of factors influencing coastal change in the Western Canadian Arctic

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Abstract

Coastal change in the western Canadian Arctic is influenced by coastal morphology, relative sea-level trend and sea-ice and storm climates. The spatial variability of these factors tends to follow general east–west trends suggesting similar trends in coastal erosion hazard, processes and rates of coastal change. The spatial variability in the causes of coastal change is examined in the communities of Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour, Holman and Kugluktuk.

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Abbreviations

RSL:

Relative sea level

GPS:

Global positioning system

CGPS:

Continuous global positioning system

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge funding from the Panel on Energy Research and Development, the Climate Change Action Fund, the Canadian Space Agency, the Geological Survey of Canada (Natural Resources, Canada) and the Geodetic Survey Division (Natural Resources Canada). Data were supplied by the Canadian Ice Service, the Meteorological Service of Canada and the Marine Environmental Data Service. Logistical support from the Polar Continental Shelf Project and Aurora Research Institute is gratefully acknowledged. Ron Solvason of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) contributed substantially in the collection of tidal data. Dave Frobel (GSC) and JC Lavergne (GSD) provided essential technical support in the field. We have benefited from the knowledge and assistance of numerous local residents in Kugluktuk, Holman, Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk. Permitting of this work by the various community organisations of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, by Aurora Research Institute, and by the Nunavut Research Institute is much appreciated. Reviews and comments by Michel Allard, Arnaud Hequette and Mike Lewis are gratefully acknowledged. This is Geological Survey of Canada contribution no. 2003195.

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Correspondence to G. K. Manson.

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Manson, G.K., Solomon, S.M., Forbes, D.L. et al. Spatial variability of factors influencing coastal change in the Western Canadian Arctic. Geo-Mar Lett 25, 138–145 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-004-0195-9

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