MARINE INFRASTRUCTURES IN NUNAVIK AND CLIMATE CHANGES

摘要

During the last decade, the fourteen villages in Nunavik, Quebec, were equipped with marine infrastructures (breakwaters, wharves, access ramps). In the context of climate changes, some of these infrastructures may be vulnerable to wave and ice conditions that could overcome their design criteria, mainly based on past data. Transports Quebec, in collaboration with Kativik Regional Government (Inuit local government) and Ouranos, is leading this study trying to assess the impacts of climate changes on environmental variables that may affect northern harbours and to implement adaptation measures accordingly. The project includes data collection in 7 of the 14 villages where vulnerabilities have been anticipated. The data collecting program includes meteorological data collection, water levels recording and sequential ice photography of the harbours and surroundings. These data, in conjunction with Radarsat-Ⅱ imagery and existing meteorological and tidal data, will be used to validate several numerical models covering Ungava Bay, Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait. It includes a coupled 3D oceanic sea ice model, a 2D storm surge model (both forced by the Canadian regional climate model) and a storm tracking model. The model results and information derived from traditional knowledge from Inuit people will be used to provide indicators and parameters for assessing the changes in storminess, storm surges, wind waves and ice conditions in the vicinity of the infrastructures, according to various future climate scenarios. These results will be used to produce relevant statistics to revise design criteria and, depending on site specific risk assessments, maintenance and rehabilitation programs of the marine infrastructures. The organizations participating in this research project are: Transports Quebec, Kativik Regional Government, Ouranos, INRS-ETE, UQAR-ISMER, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Environnement Illimite, CIMA+ and Groupe-conseil LaSalle.