Subtle Vegetation Change - Torngat Mountains

This dataset contains the percent land cover of woody shrubs in shrub-dominated ecotypes within Torngat Mountains National Park from 1985 to 2014. This is a remote sensing measure that uses Landsat imagery collected on an annual basis during peak phenology in the summer. The increase in percent cover of shrubs is an important indicator of climate change in northern ecosystems. Changes in regional climate affect the growing season length, permafrost, and soil temperature and moisture, which ultimately affect land cover. Quantifying the expansion of woody shrubs into tundra will enable park managers to predict ecological responses such as shifts in wildlife ranges or impacts to species at risk.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 19:19 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 19:19 (UTC)
contact_email paul.zorn@pc.gc.ca
contact_person {}
criticality_level ["educators", "nongovernmental_organizations", "scientists", "students"]
data_dictionary []
geographic_scope ["10"]
open_canada_collection primary
open_canada_date_published 2017-10-01 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"fr": ["Monts-Torngat", "arbustes ligneux", "couvert végétal", "télédétection", "imagerie Landsat"], "en": ["Torngat Mountains", "Woody Shrubs", "Vegetation Cover", "Remote Sensing", "Landsat Imagery"]}
open_canada_subject ["nature_and_environment"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Changement subtil de la végétation ‒ Monts-Torngat
update_frequency as_needed