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INCIDENCE OF PLEISTOCENE-HOLOCENE CLIMATE ON THE CONCURRENT LANDSCAPE AND PERMAFROST DEVELOPMENT OF THE BEAVER CREEK REGION, SOUTHWESTERN YUKON, CANADA
Session: Geocryology II / Géocryologie II
Michel Sliger, Université de Montréal - Département de Géographie (Canada)
Fortier Daniel, Université de Montréal - Département de Géographie (Canada)
deGrandpré Isabelle, Université de Montréal - Département de Géographie (Canada)
Lapointe-Elmrabti Lyna, Université de Montréal - Département de Géographie (Canada)
The Beaver Region is located in southwestern Yukon and was not glaciated during the last glacial advance (Late Wisconsinian, 26-11.7Ky BP). The site lies on Middle Wisconsinian to Holocene deposits covering a disintegration moraine; prior cryostratigraphic investigations have shown the presence of ice-rich cryofacies and syngenetic ice wedges down to 10 m below the surface. The objective of this paper is to propose a conceptual model linking the permafrost cryostratigraphy to the post-glacial climate history. 29 boreholes have been analysed in relation to the topography, ecology and pedology. Five cryostratigraphic units have been defined, characterized and related to specific development stages. As results, the contemporary landscape can be defined in two contrasted zones; mesic convex, and humid concave areas. This differentiated geomorphology affects the modern landscape evolution from a geothermal, hydrologic, ecologic, pedogenic and cryogenic perspective.
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