Nature Climate Change - Large sinuous rivers are slowing down in a warming Arctic
A new study, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that the climate change impact on Artic rivers may not be what we had previously expected, specifically that the speed at which these rivers migrate will actually decrease, rather than increase. This could change the way scientists look at northern environments and is important for community planning. Rising temperatures and melting permafrost were thought to speed up the river's position change. However, the “shrubification” of the Arctic is slowing that down. The permafrost thawing means that more vegetation can grow. This is making riverbanks more stable, preventing erosion. Additionally, the surface water runoff that would typically cause erosion is now being used by the new plant life.
This study looked at 10 winding rivers wider than 100m in permafrost territory. The authors emphasized that this is likely not applicable to smaller streams, and more data and studies are needed. This type of impact assessment will not be available in the first iteration of the Canada1Water project, but it is something we hope it can perform in the future. Currently, the Canada1Water project aims to give water resource managers, policymakers, and communities the tools to make informed decisions about water management.
Want to read more about this study? Read the review articles below: