Using ice-scars as indicators of exposure to physical lakeshore disturbances, Corvette Lake, northern Québec, Canada

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
The hypothesis tested here is that ice-scars recorded by lakeshore tree stands can be used as an integrative proxy indicator of the overall hydrodynamic disturbance regimes affecting northern lakeshores. This study was conducted on a shoreline segment located at the extreme east of Corvette Lake, situated in the high-boreal climatic zone of northern Quebec. A significant relationship was found between ice-scar chronology and wave exposure index, which indicates that the mechanical action and physical force of ice activity mainly depend on the same environmental factors determining exposure to wave action (fetch, wind direction and velocity, and shore slope). The spatial and temporal variability of ice-scar chronology features also corresponded to the distribution of geomorphological features associated with ice activity along the shoreline. Together, ice-scars and wave exposure index provide essential information to interpret the evolution of lakeshore vegetation mosaics in time and space.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2012, vol. 37, n°. 13, p. 1353-1361, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2012

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley