In the first map, we can see from the multicriterial evaluation (using the A2 model of climate change) that agricultural potential will increase in many areas over the next 80 years.  Importantly, areas farther north will open up to the possibility of agriculture, including a long strip of northeastern coastline and areas along the Yukon border, which change from being suitable to ideal   

The second map is from running the weighted sum with equal weights, that is 25/100 for each of the four variables  

The third map is a weighted sum of the unequal and the equal weights, giving each a weight of 1 

 

Across all three maps, it can be generalised that agricultural potential will increase along the outer edges of the territory.  Giving equal weights to each factor resulted in less land being deemed ideal for agriculture in the past records, and the composite of equal and unequal weights is similar for the past as well.  The centre of the territory remains in class 3 across all three weighted sum analyses, indicating that the interior will likely see little change to its agricultural land.  Looking at the rasters that went into this MCE, precipitation looks to be a limiting factor for the interior. While the A2 climate change model predicts an increase in precipitation here, it will still be at a low level. 

 

These are the three tables  of pixel counts for each map

 

MCE weighted

 

class	past	future	Difference
1	3381	2248	-1133
2	853	514	-339
3	855	543	-312
4	2763	1192	-1571
5	2522	6195	3673

 

MCE equal weights

 

class	past	future	difference
1	1032	1183	151
2	2812	2056	-756
3	1726	3996	2270
4	4085	2327	-1758
5	719	1045	326

 

MCE composite of weighted and equal weights

 

class	past	future	difference
1	1931	2288	357
2	1979	586	-1393
3	1692	994	-698
4	3650	3444	-206
5	1122	3287	2165

 

This analysis is based upon a climate change prediction model which is itself based upon numerous assumptions.  Models do not show truths; they are representations of the real world.  I made numerous assumptions of my own as well, including most importantly my reclassification of the rasters.  My justification for these is given on the method page, but I could easily have chosen different values.  The choice of weights also had a significant impact on the outcome.  I chose for temperature to be the strongest factor, with precipitation below, and  slope and texture being equal and below both climate variables.  The data manipulations involving precipitation and temperature were heavily calculation-based, in which I had to run long queries.  There is a possibility that I typed in numbers wrong, which would affect the output. 

 

It is important to keep in mind that other factors will impact the potential for agriculture in the Arctic, including social, economic, and political factors.  It is also important to acknowledge that agriculture is not a traditional means of producing food in the Northwest Territories, and any move to increase agricultural production should have the support and involvement of people living in the territory.