Regions: North Slave Region
Tags: physical sciences, active layer, atmospheric sciences, flooding, meteorology, stream flow, hydrological processes, thermodynamics, snowmelt, runoff process, water budget, hydrometric monitoring
| Principal Investigator: | Spence, Chris (3) |
| Licence Number: | 12963 |
| Organization: | Environment Canada |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2001
1999
1998
|
| Issued: | Jun 03, 1998 |
| Project Team: | Dr. Al Pietroniro, Bob Reid, Dr. Phil Marsh, Dr. Wayne Rouse, Dr. John Gibson |
Objective(s): The objectives of the research are to 1) expand the database of information on those processes relevant to northern Canadian Shield hydrology such as spring snowmelt, active layer dynamics, wetland hydrology and lake storage and 2) to test hydrologic models of streamflow using the improved database and compare these model results to estimates from linked hydrologic/atmospheric models developed in MAGS. Present monitoring in the Yellowknife Basin includes six streamflow stations and five snow courses. The streamflow stations are concentrated in the lower portions of the basin while the snow courses are well distributed. There is no climate monitoring in the basin. The installation of the climate and streamflow stations at Lower Carp Lake will improve the understanding of the climate and hydrology of the basin by providing data from areas previously unmonitored.
Project Description: A number of remote meteorological and hydrometric data collection sites will be constructed around Lower Carp Lake. An island on the lake will be used as a base camp. This island will be used to operate an automatic weather station and hydrometric stations and associated camp to support scientific studies of the Canadian GEWEX effort and to provide meteorological data for use in weather forecasts and warnings, for the period of May, 1998 to May 2002. A Water Survey of Canada streamflow gauge will be established at the outlet of the lake to provide lake level and streamflow information. The remote collection sites are solar and battery powered units which collect and transmit temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, snow depth and precipitation, soil moisture, soil temperature, evaporation, streamflow and lake level. A data logger is used to measure these parameters and perform the necessary calculations to output weather observations. All the sites will be visited at least 4 times per year for routine maintenance. Installation of the remote stations will be done with minimal impact to surrounding land & flora.
