Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area
Tags: physical sciences, aquatic ecosystems, landscape disturbance, climate change, hydrology, limnology, prediction models, ecology
| Principal Investigator: | Prowse, Terry D (13) |
| Licence Number: | 13943 |
| Organization: | Water and Climate Impact Research Centre, University of Victoria |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2008
2007
2006
2005
|
| Issued: | Feb 20, 2006 |
| Project Team: | Dr. Daniel L. Peters (Research Scientist, NWRI/W-CIRC/UVic), Dr. Fred Wrona (Research Scientist, NWRI/W-CIRC/UVic), Mr. Martin Lacroix (Physical Scientist, NWRI/W-CIRC/UVic), Ms. Patricia Mesquita (Graduate Student, Department of Geography, UVic), Ms. Megan Thompson (Graduate Student, Department of Geography, UVic), Mr. Tom Carter (Research Technician, NWRI/NHRC), Dr. Ed McCauley (Scientist/Professor, Department of Biology, U of C) |
Project Description: Climate change in the Canadian Arctic is expected to have far-reaching impacts on the hydrology and ecology of freshwater ecosystems. These systems are particularly sensitive to climate change because many cryospheric and hydrologic processes respond to relatively small in changes in climate, which in turn affect landscape biogeochemical processes and associated ecological responses. Hence, the purpose of this study is to develop a hydro-ecological model for small arctic lakes that can be used to assess the vulnerability of arctic lake ecosystems to disturbance, such as future climate change or water withdrawal. Achievement of the study’s goal requires detailed field experimentation. A set of tundra lakes over a climatic gradient from the treeline near Inuvik to the tundra on Richards Island (parallel to the proposed gas pipeline) will be sued for field data collection. The lakes have been selected on a paired basis, that is, one undisturbed and one disturbed from the effects of obvious permafrost slumping. The disturbed lakes will act as historical analogues for the future effects of climate change. Instruments to measure air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, water temperature, net radiation, precipitation, water level and water quality will be set up at two to six lakes in the study area. Servicing of this instrumentation will require quarterly field trips, tentatively scheduled for mid-March, late May or early June, late July or early August, and late September, depending on environmental conditions. Related data from lake bottom and water sampling will be conducted to assess productivity (i.e., invertebrate, plant and bacterial life) and geochemistry. Lake ice depths and permafrost sampling will also be conducted at a subset of the study lakes. Bathymetry of the lakes will be obtained via ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys conducted on the ice surface, as well as regular surveying techniques. The lakes will be travelled to and from predominantly via helicopter (landing near shore) and thence, by small inflatable craft on water. Travel to the study area will be via snowmobile during the winter. The study will be conducted from March 1 to October 31, 2006 at 66 lakes located on a transect north of Inuvik.
