Environment Canada: Atlantic Region News Releases

MONCTON, NB, November 4, 2003 – Surveys that will help determine both current and potential impacts of climate change on coastal regions of southeastern New Brunswick are to resume in November. The surveys are part of a three-year, multi-partner project managed by Environment Canada aimed at understanding the impacts of climate change, as well as measures that can be taken to address those impacts.

Rising sea levels along the province’s southeastern coast have already had significant impacts—most noticeably through storm surge flooding and coastal erosion. These effects are expected to accelerate as a result of the warming effects of climate change. In addition to examining the impacts of sea-level rise on the people, land, infrastructure and wildlife habitat in various parts of the region, the $2.5 million project will develop possible strategies for communities to adapt to and cope with these impacts.

The “Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change on the Coastal Zone of Southeastern New Brunswick” project started in the spring of 2003. It covers sections of coastline from Kouchibouguac National Park to Cape Jourimain, and will involve two kinds of surveying over the next several weeks:

In mid-November, scientists from Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, NB Department of Natural Resources, Université de Moncton, and the Centre for Geographic Sciences (Nova Scotia Community College), will resume land and air surveying of the region that was begun in May. During this time, residents near Kouchibouguac National Park, Shemogue harbours and Cape Jourimain may see a low-flying helicopter (outfitted with LIDAR surveying equipment) and ground surveyors in the area.

Helicopter flights will take place during the daytime, over three or four days. The data gathered during this period will be used to develop tools like digital flood-risk and eco-system maps of the area.

During the month of November, researchers from the Université de Moncton Masters of Environmental Studies program will survey individuals and groups in several communities through a questionnaire on local impacts and adaptation to climate change and sea level rise.
The questionnaires are part of an on-going effort by project partners to gain input from communities in the study areas. To date, project partners have also met with over a dozen community, municipal and provincial groups to discuss the project and its goals and scope for their area.

Sea-level rise project partners include Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, the New Brunswick government, Université de Moncton, University of New Brunswick, Mount Allison University, Dalhousie University and Centre of Geographic Sciences, in consultation with municipalities and planning commissions, and with additional financial support from the Government of Canada's Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Program. (A complete list of each sub-project and its lead organization is attached.)

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Sub-Projects listing

Sub Project Name	Lead Organization
1. Sea-Level Rise	Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada
2. Coastal Erosion	NB Dept. of Natural Resources
3. Storm Surge and Meteorological Modelling	Meteorological Research Branch, Environment Canada
4. Storm Surge and Meteorological Climatologies	Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada
5. LIDAR data and Digital Elevation Modelling	Applied Geomatics Research Group, Centre of Geographic Sciences
6. Ecosystems	Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
7. Integration	K.-C. Irving Chair in Sustainable Development, Université de Moncton
8. Kouchibouguac	National Park Kouchibouguac National Park, Parks Canada
9. Socio-economic Impacts	Community and Departmental Relations Branch, Environment Canada
10. Adaptation Strategies	Dept. of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Centre for Property Studies, University of New Brunswick

For more information, please contact:

Réal Daigle
Project Manager, Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change
on the Coastal Zone of Southeastern New Brunswick
Meteorological Service of Canada
Environment Canada
(506) 851-6743