Younger Dryas and Postglacial Threshold Events in the Western Canadian Arctic

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: glaciology, fossils, historical data, radiocarbon dating, bowhead whales, sea level change

Principal Investigator: Dyke, Arthur S. (4)
Licence Number: 13191
Organization: Geological Survey of Canada
Licensed Year(s): 2003 2002 2001 2000
Issued: May 22, 2001
Project Team: James Savelle, D.A. Hodgson, Julie Ross

Objective(s): The primary objectives of this research are to determine the ages of the large end moraines (glacial land forms) in the region, to determine the history of sea level change and to assess the history of occupation of the region by bowhead whales. This is done by collecting samples of marine mollusc shells and whalebone for radiocarbon dating.

Project Description: Each two person team will work out of 4 field camps, each occupied for 10 days. The camps will be put in the field by Twin Otter Aircraft. From each camp, the team will travel by 4-wheel ATV, using a different route each day. At each site, samples of 20-500 grams will be collected for radiocarbon dating. The elevation will be measured at each sample collection point.