1. Empirical models for forecasting changes in the phenology of ice cover for Canadian lakes
- Author
-
Shuter, B.J., Minns, C.K., and Fung, S.R.
- Subjects
Phenology -- Research ,Lake ecology -- Research ,Lakes -- Environmental aspects ,Ice sheets -- Research ,Earth sciences - Abstract
In situ and remote-sensed data on freeze-up and break-up dates for lakes spread over much of Canada were used to develop and validate simple regression models linking lake ice phenology to climatic conditions and lake morphometry. The primary variables affecting fall freeze-up dates were the fall date when 30-day smoothed air temperatures reached 0°C and lake mean depth; the primary variables affecting spring break-up date were the spring date when 30-day smoothed air temperatures reached 0°C, solar elevation on that date, and the number of days over winter when 30-day smoothed air temperatures were < 0°C. These models were used to project potential impacts of climate change on ice phenology across Canada; by 2055 (under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (IPCC SRES) A2 emissions scenario), freeze-up dates were projected to be an average of 10 days later. Break-up dates were projected to be from 0 to 16 days earlier, with greater changes occurring at higher latitudes. These projections were similar to those independently derived using a mechanistic ice phenology model. Des donnees in situ et de teledetection sur les dates d'englacement et de degel de lacs dans une bonne partie du Canada ont ete utilisees pour elaborer et valider des modeles de regression simple reliant la phenologie de la glace de lac aux conditions climatiques et a la morphometrie des lacs. Les principales variables ayant une incidence sur les dates d'englacement a l'automne etaient la date automnale a laquelle les temperatures de l'air lissees sur 30 jours atteignaient 0°C et la profondeur moyenne du lac; les principales variables ayant une incidence sur la date du degel printanier etaient la date au printemps a laquelle les temperatures de l'air lissees sur 30 jours atteignaient 0°C, l'elevation solaire a cette date et le nombre de jours pendant l'hiver pour lesquels les temperatures de l'air lissees sur 30 jours etaient < 0°C. Ces modeles ont ete utilises pour etablir des projections concernant les impacts potentiels de changements climatiques sur la phenologie de la glace a l'echelle du Canada. Ainsi, il est projete que, d'ici 2055 (selon le scenario d'emissions A2 du Rapport special du GIEC sur les scenarios d'emissions), les dates d'englacement seront repoussees en moyenne de 10 jours et les dates du degel seront devancees de 0 a 16 jours, les plus grands changements se produisant a plus hautes latitudes. Ces projections sont semblables a celles obtenues de maniere independante a l'aide d'un modele mecaniste de phenologie de la glace. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The phenology of lake ice cover is driven by local climate and shaped by lake morphometry (Williams 1965; Brown and Duguay 2010; Kirillin et al. 2012). Similar temporal trends [...]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF