Climatic drivers of retrogressive thaw slump activity and resulting sediment and carbon release to the nearshore zone of Herschel Island Yukon Territory Canada The Yukon Coast in Canada is an ice rich permafrost coast and highly sensitive to changing environmental conditions. Retrogressive thaw slumps are a common thermoerosion feature along this coast and develop through the thawing of exposed ice rich permafrost on slopes and removal of accumulating debris. They contribute large amounts of sediment including organic carbon and nitrogen to the nearshore zone. The objective of this study was to 1) identify the climatic and geomorphological drivers of sediment meltwater release 2) quantify the amount of released meltwater sediment organic carbon and nitrogen and 3) project the evolution of sediment meltwater release of retrogressive thaw slumps in a changing future climate. The analysis is based on data collected over 18 days in July 2013 and 18 days in August 2012. A cut throat flume was set up in the main sediment meltwater channel of the largest retrogressive thaw slump on Herschel Island. In addition two weather stations one on top of the undisturbed tundra and one on the…