Base de données de recherche des TNO

Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

étiquettes: permafrost

Objectif(s): To generate a more wholistic perspective of the permafrost, water and soil system operating at these localities, using innovative hydrogeological and geochemical techniques new to permafrost science.

Description du projet: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5828. This project will investigate the permafrost systems that underlie problematic localities along the Dempster Highway. It will link, through geochemical and hydrogeological measurements, the permafrost, groundwater, surface water, soil and dust processes to generate a more wholistic perspective of the permafrost, water and soil system operating at these problematic localities. The project aims to do this using innovative hydrogeological and geochemical techniques new to permafrost science. Over the course of this licence this project aims to investigate the following problematic issues as they relate to the Dempster Highway: Icings; culvert subsidence (thermokarst); gravel pit hydrogeology (permafrost chemistry and stability). This study follows on from a previous study on Pit 1401A (licences #16628, 17137) and the Kilometer 213 icing site (licences #17137, 17253). It will use many of the same methods that were used in those studies, with the aim or further refining and enhancing those techniques. The main techniques are: 1) Sampling: Groundwater, surface water, soil solids, organics, gas phase and dust sampling. Subsurface samples will be collected using low-impact augering techniques. Water sampling procedures include pumping, filtering and measurement of thermodynamic parameters (pH, conductivity, Eh, dissolved oxygen). 2) Hydrogeology: groundwater and surface water systematics will be measured using automated monitoring techniques that are new to permafrost science (dataloggers, permittivity, electrical conductivity instruments). These data will be used to generate basic hydrogeological models of each locality (more detailed hydrogeological models for permafrost terrains are in their infancy and would constitute a full research agenda of its own - although note that the team does have the expertise and equipment to generate such detailed models). 3) Geochemistry: The water and solid phase samples will be analysed by standard mass spectrometric techniques to determine their metal, organic, gas-phase chemistry. This chemical data will be modeled to determine the controlling processes. We will start with basic geochemical thermodynamic models and progress to more complex models if the data permits. The modeling will also indicate where data deficiencies lie, which can then be addressed in subsequent fieldwork. Two major innovations for this research will include ice laser ablation which aims to determine permafrost history, and innovative compound specific and clumped isotopic data for understanding the relationships between permafrost and overlying organic phases. 4) Environmental chemistry: combining the hydrogeological and geochemical components will generate an excellent picture of the environmental systematics of these sites - specifically what are the relationships between the different components investigated. This will help identify how the permafrost system at these sites is operating, and how it may differ from permafrost systems at non-problematic sites, and thus giving insights as to what is the underlying mechanism driving the problematic impacts. From the time this project started in 2019 we have engaged with various Inuvialuit, Gwich’in and NTGO stakeholders. The Inuvik Hunters and Trappers provided a letter of support at that time (attached). The Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board provided a response in the ARI POLAR Licence application system for ARI Application # 4544 that resulted in the issuance of ARI Licence No. 16628: “This sounds like a useful project that will increase GRRB’s understanding of surface water chemistry (especially of fish-bearing water bodies) along road corridors. It is on the ITH, but results could be relevant for the Dempster corridor. GRRB is especially supportive of the proponents using this project as an opportunity to upgrade ARI’s local capacity to carry out chemical analyses, by training local personnel and purchasing and installing analytical equipment.” During the previous research licence this project consulted with, applied for, and were granted access to a research site (Pit 1401A) from the Inuvialuit Land Administration (ILA – access permits attached). That access phase is now complete, and we have removed all instrumentation from those lands. During the research at the Pit 1401A site the communications included progress reports to ILA. At present the project is in the process of finalising both a report on our findings in Pit 1401A and a journal paper on our findings. The report will be circulated to ILA, Hunters and Trappers organisations, NWT Department of Infrastructure and other stakeholders who may be interested. There are still significant unknowns about the gravel pits along that portion of the Dempster, and there are ongoing consultations with NWT Government scientists and ILA about further work aiming to identify remediation strategies within these permafrost systems, and which may eventuate in more work in that area (as flagged for pit PW10 in the "Where" section of this application). The ongoing consultations between this project and stakeholders includes communications with the Gwich’in Tribal Council, GRRB, Nihtat Gwich’in Council, Nihtat Gwich’in RRC, Gwichya Gwich’in Council, and Gwichya Gwich’in RRC, information that was then shared with the ARI for renewal of ARI Licence No. 16912 and resulted in issuance of ARI Licence No. 17137. A small snapshot of our consultation and engagement activities is given in the attached log (Ethics Tab), and a more complete one will be uploaded once the engagement officer returns from holidays. Ongoing communications have highlighted stakeholders views regarding their priorities, in response to which this project has added research components. One important component that was modified in response to stakeholder concerns is the dust monitoring that this project is doing (concerns were expressed by both Inuvik HTC; and the quoted GRRB comment above). The involvement of local organisations (ARI) in this research was always planned, but was expanded within the kilometer 213 activity and the dust activity. The project has always regarded stakeholder comments and concerns as highly valuable input and information. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: February 04 - February 06, 2024 May 01 - May 06, 2024 September 04 - September 10, 2024