Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region
Tags: active layer, permafrost, biology, soil, climate change, environmental change, temperature
| Principal Investigator: | Nixon, Mark (15) |
| Licence Number: | 13453 |
| Organization: | Geological Survey of Canada |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
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| Issued: | Jun 19, 2003 |
| Project Team: | Caroline D |
Objective(s): One feature of permafrost that has responded significantly to past climate change is thickness of the active layer. The active layer is earth material that thaws from the surface and refreezes each year. It forms the interface between permafrost and the atmosphere and biosphere, including many human activities. Active layer thickness influences vegetation and soil conditions, thereby influencing hunting, gathering, forestry and agriculture. Thickness, texture and moisture content of the active layer affects foundation conditions for transportation and construction. Changes in the active layer and thaw penetration can contribute to slope instability with impacts on transportation facilities and other structures. It is important to understand how the active layer varies locally and regionally and how it will respond to environmental change, including but not restricted to climate change. This year will be the thirteenth annual survey of maximum annual thaw depth and temperature from sites along a transect extending from Fort Simpson to Tuktoyaktuk. Sites near Tulita will not be surveyed this year.
