Alexandre Normandeau (Geological Survey of Canada) - Impact of a changing cryosphere on the seabed of the eastern Canadian Arctic

Abstract: Daily satellite images reveal the drastic impact the melting of glaciers and the thawing of permafrost have on the coastal dynamics of the Canadian Arctic. Unlike the terrestrial domain, less than 20% of the seafloor is mapped and most areas are only mapped once, hindering our ability to observe seabed changes in response to cryospheric processes. This presentation will showcase recent examples of seabed changes in response to glacier melting and permafrost thaw in the eastern Canadian Arctic. It will specifically address the role of icebergs in generating marine geohazards such as submarine landslides and turbidity currents and the role of permafrost thaw on modifying seabed geomorphology. These examples will highlight the importance of seafloor maps and the monitoring of marine sedimentary processes, especially in a changing climate.

Speaker: Alexandre Normandeau, Geological Survey of Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia