Base de données de recherche des TNO

Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

étiquettes: physical sciences, active layer, permafrost, hydrology, groundwater

Objectif(s): To gain an understanding of how the concentrations of nutrients and trace metals change during transport to the coast and determine what signal is eventually released to the coastal ocean.

Description du projet: The objectives are to measure a suite of trace elements and isotopes (TEIs) in the active layer and permanently frozen layer of permafrost cores sampled near the Mackenzie River, and to compare these concentrations to those observed in submarine groundwater discharge and Mackenzie River discharge in order to determine whether permafrost-associated TEIs are being transported to the coastal Arctic. By sampling across the river and groundwater salinity gradients we aim to gain an understanding of how the concentrations of nutrients and trace metals change during transport to the coast and determine what signal is eventually released to the coastal ocean. Ice augers will be used to core permafrost to 1-2 m depth in order to sample the active layer and the top of the permanently frozen layer. Four cores will be collected in Inuvik; two will be taken near the banks of the Mackenzie River, and two will be collected farther inland. River water samples will be collected by hand near the location of the first set of cores. The Aurora Research Institute will act as a base camp for this part of the sampling expedition. River water samples will be taken across the salinity gradient at the mouth of the Mackenzie River via boat. Water will be collected using surface submersible pumps. A small number (1-3) of 1 m long sediment cores will be collected using a gravity corer. Groundwater samples will be collected on the beach in Tuktoyaktuk using push-point samplers. Temporary ¼ inch groundwater wells will be inserted by hand to a depth of up to 2 m. A transect of samples will be taken across the beach in order to sample a range of salinities. The research team are looking into using a boat through the Hunters and Trappers Associations of Tuktoyaktuk or Inuvik, and are working with the Aurora Research Institute to coordinate K-12 outreach during the field sampling trip. The results will be published in scientific journals as well as a graduate student thesis. Results will also be presented at scientific conferences, including the January 2017 Alaska Marine Science Symposium, and the team will work with the Aurora Research Institute to plan outreach in the form of a public lecture or school visit during the field sampling trip. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 19, 2016 to July 2, 2016.