Monitoring - Climate Change

Sea Temperature and Storm Surge Monitoring

Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada

Rationale

Sea temperature and storm surge probe.

Climate change may increase the frequency and strength of coastal storms. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has started a sea temperature and storm surge monitoring program to collect information about the effect of storms on water levels and water temperature. Parks Canada is participating in this monitoring program as a partner. This information can be used to understand how storms affect the permafrost and ice that occur along the coast. The information can also be used to look at how sea temperatures affect fish migration. This is currently a pilot project that will determine the effectiveness of the equipment and project design to monitor sea temperature and water levels. The project is part of a network of sea temperature and storm surge monitoring projects across the Arctic Ocean coastline.

Objectives

• To measure changes in water levels and temperature during storms along the southeastern Beaufort Sea coast.
• To develop an understanding of how storms affect the permafrost and ice that occur along the Beaufort Sea coast.
• To relate coastal sea temperatures with fish migration.

Methods and Information Collected

• Sea temperature and storm surge monitoring is conducted at various locations along the Beaufort Sea coast.
• Probes are used to measure sea temperature and storm surges. The probes are cylinder shaped and are approximately 10 cm long and 3 cm in diameter. The probes are attached to a weight and placed in 1-3 m of water.
• Parks Canada is responsible for setting out and retrieving probes along the Ivvavik coast at Shingle Point, Stokes Point, Workboat Passage, Nunaluk Spit and Komakuk Beach. The probes are set out in June or July and retrieved in August or September.

Years of Data

• 2000 and 2001

Partners

• Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada (project lead)
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Results

2000

• In 2000, probes were set at Shingle Point, Stokes Point, Nunaluk Spit, Komakuk Beach, Philips Bay, Kendall Island, North Head, Tuktoyaktuk Harbour, Midshelf and at 4 locations in Alaska.
• The probes recorded a water surge associated with a storm on August 10-14, 2000.
• The storm showed differences in the timing and height of water surges at various locations. The surges were later, higher and longer in the west.
• In the absence of permanent tide gauges, the storm surge probe is a suitable tool for monitoring summer and early fall water levels along the Beaufort Sea shoreline

One hour running means of storm surge probe data at Nunaluk Spit, Kendall Island, North Head and Tuktoyaktuk sites in 2000.

2001

• In 2001 probes were set at Shingle Point, Stokes Point, Workboat Passage, Nunaluk Spit, Komakuk Beach, East Channel, Shallow Bay, Tuktoyaktuk Harbour and 5 locations in Alaska.
• Probes were set out by Parks Canada Agency at 5 locations in 2001 and retrieved at 3 of the 5 locations.

Location	Date Set	Depth	Date Retrieved
Shingle Point	July 15, 200	190cm	probe lost
Stokes Point	July 19, 2001	250cm	Sept 5, 2001
Workboat Passage	July 19, 2001	195cm	probe lost
Nanaluk Spit	July 19, 2001	220cm	Sept 5, 2001
Komakuk Beach	Aug 16, 2001	255cm	Sept 5, 2001

• Data collected in 2001 will be reported in 2002.

 

Contacts

Steven Solomon
Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic)
P.O. Box 1006
Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2
Phone: (902) 426-8911
Fax: (902) 426-4104
Ssolomon@nrcan.gc.ca

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