NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: physical sciences, environmental impact, ground temperature, permafrost, vegetation, climate change, hydrology, limnology, topography, treeline

Objective(s): This five-year northern-based collaborative research project, initiated by the Water Resources Division, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, aims to: enhance the understanding of environmental conditions in the Mackenzie Delta region, examine the effects of global climate change on the climate and environment in the study region, and develop a knowledge base that can be directly applied to environmental decision-making in the context of planning, assessment and management of oil and gas related development. These objectives are reached through investigations into the relationships between air and ground temperatures across the treeline, the effects of permafrost degradation on the water quality of tundra lakes, and permafrost characteristics in the Mackenzie Delta and the effects of climate change on permafrost conditions.

Project Description: The Mackenzie Delta region is characterized by diverse terrain and ecological conditions. Responsible and effective management of oil and gas exploration and potential production and pipeline construction in this region necessitates a broad but detailed understanding of environmental conditions in this region and the potential response of this environment to climate change or anthropogenic disturbance. This five-year northern-based collaborative research project, initiated by the Water Resources Division, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, aims to: enhance the understanding of environmental conditions in the Mackenzie Delta region, examine the effects of global climate change on the climate and environment in the study region, and develop a knowledge base that can be directly applied to environmental decision-making in the context of planning, assessment and management of oil and gas related development. These objectives are reached through investigations into the relationships between air and ground temperatures across the treeline, the effects of permafrost degradation on the water quality of tundra lakes, and permafrost characteristics in the Mackenzie Delta and the effects of climate change on permafrost conditions. The field team will examine eight sites between Inuvik and the Beaufort Sea coast: two sites on Richards Island and six sites in the area between Inuvik and Parsons Lake (including Gill's Camp). In early and late winter, snow depth and density will be measured along 70m transects. At each site, temperature cables, monitored by a data logger, will be installed in the active-layer and near-surface permafrost, and 1.5m above the ground surface. These sites will be accessed by snowmobile. In the summer, active-layer depths, soil properties, and terrain and vegetation characteristics will be recorded for each site. Ground temperature cables will be installed to a maximum depth of 15m at several sites using a small heli-portable drill, which is lightweight (less than 500kg) and possible to be handled by one person. Four person fly camps will be established at each of these sites for three day periods in August 2006. In examining the effects of permafrost degradation on the water quality of tundra lakes, water and soil sampling from a total of sixty small tundra lakes (on Richards Island and in the vicinity of Parsons and Noell Lakes) will be carried out to determine baseline water quality conditions along the proposed pipeline corridor. Monitoring of shallow and deep temperature cables installed in the Mackenzie Delta (in the vicinity of Inuvik) and on the adjacent tundra uplands to measure spatial variation in permafrost temperatures will also be conducted in order to generate data that can be compared to information collected on these sites in the 1970s. This comparison will possibly indicate how permafrost at different sites has responded to recent environmental change.