NIVEO-AEOLIAN SAND DEPOSITION IN SUB-ARCTIC DUNES, EASTERN COAST OF HUDSON-BAY, QUEBEC, CANADA

Aeolian sand transport during winter and the snow-free season was assessed quantitatively by direct year-round field measurements along transects on the lee side of parabolic dunes in subarctic Quebec. In 1987-1988, niveo-aeolian deposition was more important than aeolian sedimentation in three of the four study sites, and contributed > 75% of the total annual accumulation in exposed sites and < 25% in protected forest sites. The maximum depth of interstratified snow and sand deposits (3.5 m) was recorded in March. Semi-permanent snow lenses may persist longer than 2 years in the aeolian sediments. After dissipation of snow, 22 cm of sand (as a maximum) accumulated on the slipface of the most active dunes, whereas only minor sand accumulation occurred in distant areas from active sand erosion. Wind-driven sand was dispersed over 7.4 km2 in the Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik area. The acumulation of snow and sand during the snow season, together with spring thaw and collapse of the niveo-aeolian deposit, caused different types of injuries to trees, especially in 1985 and 1987 when a maximum of torn branches was recorded over the last 10 year period.