Cold Matters: The State and Fate of Canada's Fresh Water

by Robert William Sandford

Cold Matters is a vital and approachable work that distills the scientific complexities of snow, ice, water and climate and presents the global implications of research put forth and funded by the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences. This timely book gives the concerned reader an opportunity to take part in the conversation about our global environment in a way that transcends traditional scientific journals, textbooks, public talks or newspaper articles that are so often ignored or forgotten. In the end, Cold Matters will change the way you think about ice and snow.


The impassioned narrative and sophisticated illustrations found within the pages of Robert Sandford's latest work offer ecologically and globally minded citizens an understanding of the behaviour of our ever-changing climate system and its effect on cold environments in western Canada over the past 400 years. Using revolutionary prediction scenarios to model glaciers and glacier meltwater in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Yukon, NWT and throughout the world, Cold Matters presents a clear snapshot of how altered ecosystems will impact future climates, urban centres and agricultural landscapes.

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2012

About the author

Bob Sandford is the author or editor of over 35 books on the history and heritage of the Canadian West. He began his work with UN-linked initiatives as chair of the United Nations International Year of Mountains in 2002. He also chaired the United Nations International Year of Fresh Water and Wonder of Water Initiative in Canada in 2003–04. These celebrations focused on the growing importance of water to ecological and cultural heritage in Canada.

Reviews

[Rhys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cold Matters started a little roughly with an extended discussion of modelling. That is until the author dropped the eye-catching term 'parameterization'. Sandford later works up to silver dollar sentences like, "Because our risk assessments were made under the outmoded 20th century mentality of stationarity, hydroclimatic considerations related to our nordicity were not fully taken into account when governments decided on our behalf that Canadians were going to simply adapt to climate change rather than concentrating in a timely manner on effective mitigation" (p.219) - which means, basically: we ain't seen nothing, yet.

In general the book's thesis can be summarized as: "Water and temperature define climate. Climate defines ecosystems. And ecosystems define us." Overall, an informative book on the relationships of cold, snow and climate.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandford makes a well researched and documented argument for us as Canadians to take notice of what is happening to our water resources. Canada is blessed with the best fresh water reserves in the world; to a large extent we are responsible for it.

The rapid retreat of glaciers in the Rockie Mountains is shown in vivid detail, although he admits there is still much research to do. The effect this change will have on the watershed lands across the prairies, the north and British Columbia is speculative but alarming. The retreat of the polar ice cap is almost frightening.

Glaciers have been in retreat since 1850, but the rate if recession is now accelerating.

Sandford explains in great detail how natural forces like wind, sun and temperature affect snow cover and argues strongly that cold does matter to human and other life in Canada. For example he explains the process of sublimation (snow changing directly to vapour) and details how much energy it takes for this process to take place and how much snow is "lost" through this process. I have been asked by students and others what happened to all the snow? after a particularly sunny winter or spring day. When I told them it was taken by sublimation I got lots of weird looks and was even told I was crazy (well, sometimes the true hurts). Now I can tell them how much energy it takes and that we lose about 30% of snow this way.

Sandford does get a bit technical at times and will probably lose some readers because of that. However, if you are even an average reader you should read this - it is about our future.

[Jcphene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technical review for lay people focusing on data/science measuring water puts and takes, long term changes in the Rockies and in the Arctic [focusing on ice/glaciers/snow reservoirs]. Raises questions and underlines indisputable need to address and revise long term water management policy in Western Canada and Arctic [more dams and reservoirs will not suffice]. Very well written with photos, maps, graphs, no hand-waving.