Relations between snow, near-surface ground temperatures, and ground ice, Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary, Mackenzie Delta, NWT

Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

étiquettes: physical sciences, active layer, snow, ground ice, surface condition

chercheur principal: Morse, Peter D (5)
Nᵒ de permis: 14116
Organisation: Carleton University
Année(s) de permis: 2008 2007 2006
Délivré: févr. 22, 2007

Objectif(s): The objective of this study is to determine near-surface permafrost conditions and distributions as they relate to vegetation and snow distributions.

Description du projet: The purpose of this project is to complete the determination of the variation and distribution of near-surface ground ice at Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary (KIBS) begun in 2006. The aim is to collect ground ice samples along previously established vegetation and snow courses within distinct terrain units and transition zones, and to determine the relations between ground ice configuration and the surface conditions. In winter, sites will be accessed daily from Inuvik by pick-up truck and snow machines, likely beginning in mid-March for approximately three weeks. Summer fieldwork will last approximately four weeks, from August until mid September, with the team going out to the sites for a week at a time. Transportation will be by boat. If available, helicopter will be used to access Site 4. A hand-held CRREL drill operated by two people will be used to extract 5cm in diameter cores in near-surface permafrost at three to four locations at each study site. In winter, snow will be surveyed along established vegetation-snow courses. In summer, ground temperature data will be downloaded from previously installed data loggers. Late-summer active-layer thicknesses will be probed along the vegetation-snow transects with a hand held steel probe. A final report and thesis will be submitted to Aurora Research Institute, as will copies of publications. The Hunters and Trappers Committees will also be sent reports and publications. The study will be conducted from March 15 to April 14, 2007 and August 10 to September 15, 2007 at the following locations: Site 1: 69.5010N, 135.2877W; Site 2: 69.4501N, 135.1091W; Site 3: 69.4171N, 135.2025W; Site 4: 69.3634N, 135.4821W; Site 5: 69.3695N, 134.9829W; Site 6: 69.3621N, 134.9639W; Site 7: 69.3061N, 135.2956W; Site 8: 69.3216N, 135.2131W; Site 9: 69.3265N, 135.0666W; Site 10: 69.3030N, 134.9982W; Site 11: 69.3023N, 134.9716W.