Testing AI with hydrology questions

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evolving fast, and this is overwhelming to most people, regardless of their age and status. In recent months, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a text-generating program, has initiated a technological revolution at multiple levels in our society, with largely uncertain consequences. It was not born with knowledge or a comprehension of reality; it essentially…Continue Reading Testing AI with hydrology questions

Significant hydrological events of 2023 in Yukon – smaller scale extremes

Several parts of Canada were affected by extreme dry conditions in 2023, from Nova Scotia to Northwest Territories, including many areas of Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. This resulted in the worst wildfire season in the history of the country. Yukoners were relatively fortunate during most of the summer, but Mayo and Old Crow had…Continue Reading Significant hydrological events of 2023 in Yukon – smaller scale extremes

An alternative perspective on river systems of Yukon

Most people use maps on a regular basis for a variety of purposes. Those of us interested in river systems typically rely on this aerial, two-dimensional perspective in a professional or recreational context. While maps represent extremely useful tools to locate streams, lakes and glaciers, they lack information about the third dimension: elevation. Hydrodynamic models…Continue Reading An alternative perspective on river systems of Yukon

Tr’ondëk (Klondike River) floods: Are we done yet?

The spring of 2023 has not been gentle on properties and infrastructure located in the Tr’ondëk (Klondike River) floodplain. Severe ice jams caused significant damage between May 7 and May 14. This was followed by a record (since 1970) high flow late on May 24. Factors that led to severe ice jamming at Henderson Corner,…Continue Reading Tr’ondëk (Klondike River) floods: Are we done yet?

Little ice, big consequences: research on icing along highways of Yukon

The Climate Change Research – Hydrology group visited several monitoring sites located along the Dempster Highway and Silver Trail in February. The research project, supported by Transport Canada (Government of Canada) and the Department of Highways and Public Works (Government of Yukon), started in the fall of 2022 with the deployment of remote instruments at…Continue Reading Little ice, big consequences: research on icing along highways of Yukon

Significant hydrological events of 2022 in Yukon – the age of extremes

Each time a new climate record is broken, climate researchers are left wondering “was this because of our uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gasses?”  We rarely know for sure.  While a single extreme may be consistent with what was anticipated, specific “attribution” studies are required to determine the contribution of anthropogenic forcing to a given extreme…Continue Reading Significant hydrological events of 2022 in Yukon – the age of extremes

Pac-Man and Bluefish breakup events in 2022

The timing and intensity of river ice breakup depends on multiple factors driven by hydrological and meteorological conditions. Breakup may start gradually but can end with a significant ice jam flood. In turn, there are years where most ingredients are gathered for high water levels at breakup, yet Nature decides otherwise, and water levels remain low….Continue Reading Pac-Man and Bluefish breakup events in 2022

2022 Yukon flood perspective aligns with climate projections

For years now, we have been witnessing the occurrence of weather extremes. In 2021, unprecedented hot weather, droughts, and floods affected different regions of Canada, including Yukon. A couple of years before, in the spring of 2019, a very thin snowpack was reported in central and southern Yukon. This spring, several areas of Yukon have…Continue Reading 2022 Yukon flood perspective aligns with climate projections