Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region, South Slave Region, Kivalliq Region, Kitikmeot, Nunavut
Tags: physical sciences, contaminants, arctic rivers, marine ecosystem, biogeochemistry
| Principal Investigator: | Swyripa, Murray (2) |
| Licence Number: | 12439 |
| Organization: | Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Environment Canada |
| Licensed Year(s): |
1993
|
| Issued: | Jan 01, 1993 |
| Project Team: | D. Jeffries (co-investigator), J. Carey, A.J. Peters, S. MacDonald, R. MacDonald |
Objective(s): To estimate and characterize the total contaminant load delivered by major river systems to the arctic marine environment; to characterize the total contaminant burden of the selected rivers with respect to source through the use of biogeochemical markers; to investigate seasonal variations of the total contaminant burden of arctic river systems and assess the controlling biogeochemical processes.
Project Description: Northward flowing rivers are thought to be major ways in which contaminants are introduced to the Arctic Ocean. As part of an on-going study, river water and sediments will be collected over the course of the year and assessed for the presence of contaminants. A total of 12 rivers in the Canadian arctic mainland will be sampled in this study, including the Mackenzie, Coppermine, Burnside, Ellice, Hayes, Back, Thelon, Dubawnt, Quoich, Lorrilard, Kazan and Anderson.
