Climate and other Sources of Change in the St. Elias Region

Climate change is hypothesized to have both a greater effect and/or to be more visible in high latitudes and/or elevations. This is significant for both the peoples who live in these regions and scientists seeking evidence about the nature and magnitude of climate change. The Kluane National Park region of southwest Yukon and adjoining parks in Alaska and British Columbia, is one high-latitude, mountainous region well-suited to such studies. Many factors cause change and disturbance in mountainous regions. Thus important questions for research and management are distinguishing and understanding the interaction of climate related changes and changes due to other factors. This paper reviews the literature on the interaction of climate-related and other environmental change. It provides an initial assessment of the causes, nature and magnitude of environmental change in the broader St. Elias region as a basis for distinguishing climate-related changes. Key sources of change include resource management policies and practices, land use change, wildlife population fluctuations, long-range transport of pollutants, forestry and mining, and tourism activities.