What we are already observing

Erosion and storm surges, which are natural phenomena, have always been part of living in the Acadian Peninsula. However, residents of the Acadian Peninsula have noted that the ocean seems to be rising and that storm surges have been flooding wider areas than in the past. Shoreline residents find that they have been losing increasingly more land to erosion. Others have observed that the winters seem to be milder and that the sea does not freeze as fast or for as long. Available data confirm these observations.

Here are examples of what we are already oberving

Temperature
The average air temperature recorded in January, February and March at the Environment Canada weather station in Bas-Caraquet has increased by about 3°C from 1985 to 2011.


Quarterly average temperatures (January, February, March) recorded at the Environment Canada weather station in Bas-Caraquet, NB. The graph shows a significant increase of about 3°C in winter air temperature over a 26-year period.


Sea level
The average sea level has increased by 10 cm from 1973 to 2011 in Escuminac where the tide gauge closest to the Acadian Peninsula is located.


Average water level heights recorded by the tide gauge in Escuminac, New Brunswick (Environment Canada) showing a highly significant increase of 10 cm since 1973.


Storms
The January 2000 storm prompted the evacuation of several homes, flooded roads resulted in property damage and caused salt water to seep into wells.


In Le Goulet, flooding took place in 2000 and 2010. In 2000, close to 30 homes and wells were damaged by salt water infiltration. A road was closed and residents had to be evacuated from their homes.



Other storms since that time, such as the ones back in December 2010, have also caused flooding, damage and erosion in several locations in the Acadian Peninsula.


Erosion
The average erosion rates along the shores of the Acadian Peninsula vary according to the type of coast and wave exposure.

Beaches: 0.32 to 1.01 m/year
Dunes: 0.35 to 1.2 m/year
Cliffs: 0.18 to 1.17 m/year


The «Facterie à Bastien beach» in Rivière-du-Portage receded 22 m from 2007 to 2012. It is one of the areas in the Acadian Peninsula where erosion rates are the highest. Photo and data by Dominique Bérubé, New Brunswick Department of Energy and Resource Development.

Shoreline movement
View examples of shoreline movement in the Acadian Peninsula between 1944 and 2012. Move the arrows!



Caraquet



Pigeon Hill



Sainte-Marie-Saint-Raphaël



Sainte-Marie-Saint-Raphaël



Anse-Bleue


Chemin des chalets, Maisonnette



Dune de Maisonnette