Ecological and geomorphological investigations in the alpine tundra of the Mackenzie Mountains, NWT.
Principal Investigator: Kershaw, G. Peter (38)
Licence Number: 12986
Organization: University of Alberta
Licensed Year(s): 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
Issued: Jul 06, 1998
Project Team: Linda, Eric and Geoffrey Kershaw, Marlayne Gunning

Objective(s): The main objectives of this study are to: 1. determine the status of permafrost landforms in the study area, and 2. determine the long-term recovery after abandonment of the CANOL No.1 project. Both of these objectives are part of long-term studies in the area that were initiated in 1974. Intensive investigations were carried out in 1974, 1977-82 and since 1990. With climate change potentially resulting in warming in the north it is important to know the current condition of permafrost landforms. Since 1945 disturbances have been affected by natural processes of revegetation and studies have been underway since 1977 to determine the nature of this process.

Project Description: The main study objectives are to: 1) determine the status of permafrost landforms in the study area, and 2) determine long-term recovery after abandonment of the CANOL No. 1 project. Access during the summer is via the Yukon along the Canol Road through Macmillan Pass. Beyond the base camp mountain bikes and foot will be the means of transport. Automated microclimate stations powered by solar energy cells operate year-round. The base camp at Camp 222 includes solar cells to power laptop computers. The field season will start in July and end in late-August. Movement on site is via mountain bike along the abandoned western end of the Canol Road. Limited soil sampling will be conducted a small amount (<25 kg) will be returned to University of Alberta for analysis. 1998 studies will encompass the area between Macmillan Pass and Caribou Pass.