Sediment fluxes and budgets in high‐latitude and high‐altitude cold environments: Sediment budgets in cold environments (SEDIBUD) second workshop, Abisko, Sweden, 15–19 September 2007

Abstract

Amplified climate change and ecological sensitivity of polar and cold regions have been highlighted as key global environmental issues. Projected climate change in cold regions is expected to alter melt season duration and intensity, along with total precipitation and the balance between snowfall and rainfall. Similarly, changes to the reduced extent of permafrost and increased active layer depth are also expected. These effects will undoubtedly change surface water environments in cold regions and alter the flux of sediment, nutrients, and solutes, but the absence of data and analysis to understand the sensitivity of the surface water environment is acute in cold regions.