Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area
Tags: permafrost, revegetation, environmental impact assessment
| Principal Investigator: | Kershaw, G. Peter (38) |
| Licence Number: | 13064 |
| Organization: | University of Alberta |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
|
| Issued: | Jun 28, 1999 |
| Project Team: | Linda Kershaw |
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 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. 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 at Camp 222 includes solar cells to power laptop computers. The field season will be in August. Movement on site is via mountain bike along the abandoned western end of the Canol Road. Limited soil sampling and permafrost coring will be conducted and a small amount (<25 kg) will be returned to University of Alberta for analysis. Studies will encompass the area brtween Macmillan Pass and Caribou Pass.
