Base de données de recherche des TNO

Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

étiquettes: physical sciences, permafrost, climate change, pingo, wedge ice

Objectif(s): To understand the rate of ground warming in permafrost due to climate change and to measure the changes in ground surface characteristics that are occurring as a result.

Description du projet: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4737. The objective of this research is to understand the rate of ground warming in permafrost due to climate change and to measure the changes in ground surface characteristics that are occurring as a result. In particular, the research team are interested in changes in ground temperature, in the depth of the active layer, and in subsidence of the ground. The team are also interested in measuring how quickly ice wedges are developing ponds and then melting out underneath, leading to degradation of tundra polygons. This project continues investigations in the western Arctic since 1987, and so an important objective is to keep some of the long-term records that the team have as continuous series, so that the conclusions are based on firm evidence. The methods primarily consist of 1) drilling holes in the ground to depths of up to 15 m with a water jet drill and installing thermistor cables with data loggers to measure ground temperatures; 2) installing bench marks for repeated surveys to determine how much the ground is settling or moving laterally; 3) monitoring the depth of thaw in the ground; 4) measuring snow depths and snow densities; 5) measuring lake-ice thicknesses; and, 6) measuring the temperature in ponds and other water bodies. When the research team go to the field sites levelling surveys are made, retrieve data loggers and down load them, collect samples from soil pits, and drill holes to 3 or 4 m depth to collect samples from permafrost. Occasionally the research team make resistivity surveys of near-surface conditions. The research team also pay close attention to changes in vegetation at the sites, and may make surveys of vegetation composition and abundance. At Illisarvik the research team also place little shock loggers in the ground, which monitor mini earthquakes, because the interest is in detecting when ice wedges crack. In 2015 the team placed a wildlife camera at Illisarvik in front of a snow stake in order to see if we could monitor snow accumulation at the site. From time to time the Aurora Research Institute (ARI) asks the research team to give presentations in schools and communities, which the team are happy to do. In the next 5 years the research team plan to visit a Hunters and Trappers meeting once each year to present the work, ask for comments, and discuss any concerns. The team particularly hope to visit Aklavik because of research the team are involved with on the Yukon North Slope, in collaboration with Parks Canada, and on Herschel Island. The team are also more than willing to answer any questions that arise from community members at other times. For instance, the Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope) has asked for presentations at the North Slope conference, and the team have done this. The team also make presentations in Yellowknife and Whitehorse. In 2019 the team offered a course for northerners on Transportation Engineering in Permafrost at the ARI, June 2 - 8. In 2020 the Principal Investigator (PI) was part of the Inuvialuit Monitoring workshop in Inuvik on 8 January. The PI was asked to develop some workshops for community monitors which the team will try to do this this year. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 30, 2020 to December 31, 2020.