Base de données de recherche des TNO

étiquettes: physical sciences, environmental monitoring, hydrology, remote sensing, snow, microwave data

Description du projet: The primary objectives of this research are: to improve our national snow water equivalent (SWE) monitoring capabilities by acquiring the necessary data to develop accurate satellite remotely sensed, passive microwave, estimates in the spatially expansive and persistently snow covered arctic tundra environment, and to understand and quantify the spatial and temporal contribution of snowmelt water to surface water bodies from the start of spring-melt through to fall freeze-up. Transportation to the Daring Lake camp will be by helicopter from the Ekati Mine site. Transportation on site and throughout the study region will be by snowmobile for local snow and water surveys, and helicopter for regional snow and water surveys. An intensive pre-melt in-situ snow survey for comparison with satellite remote sensing data will be conducted. The sampling strategy carry out this survey involves measurements of snow depth and snow density both locally and regionally. As lake ice comprises a significant portion of the tundra landscape, the effects of the ice on the interpretation of satellite data will be investigated. Samples of ice thickness and character as well as lake bathymetry will be obtained in a variety of different lakes in the vicinity of the Daring Lake camp to determine the variability of lake cover properties. Water and snow samples will also be obtained from representative catchments throughout the study area to help quantify the contribution of snowmelt water to surface water bodies. The study will be conducted from April 10-19, 2006 in the vicinity of the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Natural Resources Daring Lake Tundra Ecosystem Research Station.