NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Principal Investigator: Gilbert, Graham L
Licensed Year(s): 2010
Summary: The objectives of this project are to define the impact of snow depth, surface vegetation, and soil characteristics on spatial and temporal variations in active-layer freeze-back in the low arctic tundra east of the Mackenzie Delta. The duration of freeze back will be determined from the ground temperatures measured at the top of permafrost. This temperature only declines at the site when the ac...

Principal Investigator: O'Neill, Brendan H
Licensed Year(s): 2010
Summary: The first objective is to compare present ground ice conditions to those recorded thirty years ago, and from this, obtain an estimate of the rate of ground ice accumulation over the past three decades. This is possible as the exact locations cored in 1979 and 1980 are marked, and new cores can be taken adjacent to these. The second objective is to compare ice conditions from sites within the basin...

Principal Investigator: Pollard, Wayne H
Licensed Year(s): 2010 2009
Summary: The focus of this research is to better understand the distribution of underground ice in hydrocarbon development areas. By identifying how much ice there is, we want to study how oil/gas activities and climate change could affect the land. The reseracher plans to use non-destructive techniques like ground-penetrating radar to accomplish our surveys. March-April, 2010: plan is to conduct 1-2 we...

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: 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: Nixon, Fredrick M.
Licensed Year(s): 2008
Summary: The objective of this project is to conduct snow surveys at selected sites in the Mackenzie Delta, related to permafrost studies. Snow surveys will be carried out at three selected sites in the Delta during early April. These are Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Program sites. There is a grid marked on these locations, where the researchers will be measuring the snow pack and snow density. M...

Principal Investigator: Morse, Peter D
Licensed Year(s): 2008 2007 2006
Summary: This licence was issued for the scientific research licence application number 748. The project objective is to determine how near-surface wedge ice volumes are related to geomorphic setting, which reflects soil physical properties, moisture contents, and process and duration of ice formation. Wedge ice geometry will be measured with a hand-held CRREL drill, permafrost cores extracted, and s...

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: Chiperzak, Doug
Licensed Year(s): 2006
Summary: Biophysical and heritage resource surveys will take place in late summer and fall, and contribute to the assessment of a potential development projects (the Tuk 2 M-18 well site and connecting pipeline to Parsons Lake and the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline) located in the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, about 12 km southeast of Tuktoyaktuk and 125 km northeast of Inuvik. The field assessment will involve four s...

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...