NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Principal Investigator: Kokelj, Steven V
Licensed Year(s): 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
Summary: “Environmental Studies across Treeline (ESAT) in the Mackenzie Delta region” is a northern based collaborative program with an objective to enhance the understanding of environmental conditions in the Mackenzie Delta region through scientific studies and monitoring. Specific studies include: 1) monitoring permafrost conditions in the Mackenzie Delta region; 2) examining freeze-back of the active l...

Principal Investigator: Vonk, Jorien
Licensed Year(s): 2011 2009 2007
Summary: The research project goal is to collect surface sediments, bank and levee sediments, particulate sediments and shallow sediment cores from lakes in the Mackenie River Delta, and to evaluate their utility as potential archives of information concerning past permafrost stability by assessing down-core changes in the age and supply of terrestrial carbon. In 2007 and 2009, teams led by Prof. Tim Eglin...

Principal Investigator: Ensom, Timothy P
Licensed Year(s): 2010 2009
Summary: The purpose of this research is to measure the seasonal temperatures of streambeds at several sites in the Mackenzie delta and adjacent tundra uplands, and predict the implications of these temperature patterns for local permafrost conditions. This project will seek to determine whether channel size and depth affect the annual thermal regime of the streambed, and will also use collected temperatu...

Principal Investigator: Pollard, Wayne H
Licensed Year(s): 2010 2009
Summary: This licence is being issued for the scientific research application no. 946. The objective of this research is to better understand the distribution of underground ice in hydrocarbon development areas. By identifying how much ice there is, the researcher wants to study how oil/gas activities and climate change could affect the land. Underground ice is one of the most unpredictable and problema...

Principal Investigator: Craven, Jim
Licensed Year(s): 2009
Summary: This licence is being issued for the scientific research application no. 956. The primary objective of this study is to field test and assess the utility of an electromagnetic (EM) geophysical technique called magnetotellurics (MT), as an inexpensive method for mapping spatial variations and changes within permafrost in the Mackenzie Delta area. Due to the large change in soil electrical resist...

Principal Investigator: Smith, Rod
Licensed Year(s): 2009
Summary: This licence was issued for the scientific research application No. 935. This study will test whether the shallow geophysics techniques of Ground Penetrating Radar and Ohm Mapper Resistivity Logging, in combination with seismic shothole drillers’ logs, can be used to resolve the nature and extent of the surficial geology cover and permafrost characteristics in two areas of recent seismic explor...

Principal Investigator: Soare, Richard J
Licensed Year(s): 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004
Summary: This project’s objective is to take multiple, small .25kg samples of the active layer of permafrost in areas where patterned ground and thermokarst are present. The data gained will help the researchers in their efforts to understand possible cold climate processes in the northern hemisphere of Mars. The researchers intend to visit areas in the vicinity of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk where polygonal...

Principal Investigator: Smith, Sharon S
Licensed Year(s): 2006
Summary: Gaps exist in the Mackenzie monitoring network in the permafrost zones north of Norman Wells, the Mackenzie Delta region and shorelines and coastlines. Enhancement of the network is essential to provide baseline information for developments such as pipelines, highways and power lines, and to assess the impact of such development and/or climate change on the environment. In this project, temperatur...

Principal Investigator: Nixon, Frederick M
Licensed Year(s): 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
Summary: The active layer, overlying the permafrost layer, is the surface earth material that thaws and re-freezes each year. Active layer thickness and character can influence hunting, fishing, forestry, gardening, transportation and construction. Changes in the active layer can contribute to landslides which may damage structures, hamper transportation, affect water quality, and influence surface and sub...

Principal Investigator: Nguyen, Thai-Nguyen
Licensed Year(s): 2006 2005
Summary: The climate and numerous field reports indicate that permafrost should be continuous in the Mackenzie Delta. However, the most recent permafrost map in the Atlas of Canada classifies the delta as having discontinuous permafrost. Yet, no extensive fieldwork covering the entire delta has ever been realized. Unfrozen conditions beneath the ground, near shifting channels, have been recognized by vario...