Impacts Tools for Arctic Climate Change in Storm Waves and Storm Surge (iTACS)

Description

Climate change is expected to impact sea ice, winds, waves, currents, and coastal sediment transport, which affect Arctic communities, the maintenance of small craft harbours, offshore industries, and the potential for future marine transport in the Arctic. Fisheries and Oceans Canada mandates include the maintenance of coastal infrastructure and safe secure waterways, both of which require reliable estimates to inform routine maintenance and long-term infrastructure planning.

To address these issues, this project will develop and deliver a web-based planning tool, maps and datasets that will enable reliable estimates of Arctic climate variability and possible climate change in the Beaufort Sea, Davis Strait, and the Mackenzie Delta region. Available, high-quality datasets will be used to provide:

• updated estimates for sea ice, currents, tides, waves, winds, sediment transport, and related climate change projections;
• maps and web-based tools that display the extremes in present climate and future climate scenarios (to mid-21st century) in response to expected scenarios; and
• a technical report and journal paper to document the results, and a related web-based tool to integrate climate change considerations into decision-making.