Sensitivities of high-latitude lakes to climatic & development disturbances
Principal Investigator: Prowse, Terry D (13)
Licence Number: 14123
Organization: Water and Climate Impacts Research Centre, University of Victoria
Licensed Year(s): 2008 2007 2006 2005
Issued: Mar 01, 2007
Project Team: Dr. Daniel L. Peters (Research Scientist, Environment Canada/W-CIRC/UVic), Dr. Fred Wrona (Research Scientist, Environment Canada/W-CIRC/UVic), Mr. Martin Lacroix (Physical Scientist, Environment Canada/W-CIRC/UVic), Ms. Patricia Mesquita (Graduate Student, Department of Geography, UVic), Ms. Megan Thompson (Graduate Student, Department of Geography, UVic), Ms. Holly Goulding (Graduate Student, Department of Geography, UVic), Mr. Tom Carter (Research Technician, Environment Canada/NHRC), Dr. Ed McCauley (Scientist/Professor, Department of Biology, U of C)

Objective(s): The objective 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 climate change or water withdrawal.

Project Description: Melting permafrost can alter soils and surface runoff. The effects of such changes have been modeled but never evaluated experimentally. Arctic lake productivity is not well articulated and sensitivities to disturbance (e.g., climate change, water withdrawal for development use) remain unpredictable. The objective of this study is to develop a hydrologic model for melting permafrost conditions, as well as models of aquatic productivity response to inputs (including latitude/productivity relationships for major nutrients), and paleo-limnological models of changes for small lakes in the study region. A set of tundra lakes over a climatic gradient from tree-line near Inuvik to tundra on Richards Island in the Mackenzie delta will be used for field data collection. Lakes have been selected on a paired basis, one undisturbed and the other disturbed by permafrost slumping. These lakes act as historical analogues for the effects of climate change. By remote-sensing, a time series of disturbance is determined that can be correlated with paleo-records of changes. To quantify geochemical loadings, basic hydrometric instrumentation will measure the contributing catchment (e.g. surface water flow). Climate stations will be set-up at 2 - 6 lakes to monitor air temperature, relative humidity, windspeed, water temperature, net radiation, precipitation, water level, and water quality. Instrumentation will be checked quarterly. Water column sampling will be done and aquatic plant, invertebrate, zooplankton and phytoplankton collection will be done with a small tow-net. Lake ice depths, permafrost active-layer depths, ground temperature, will be measured. Geochemistry of permafrost will be measured by collection of small permafrost samples. Lake bottom sediments will be collected by gravity microcorer and analyzed for invertebrate, plant and bacterial life, and geochemistry. Bathymetry of the lakes will be obtained via ground penetrating radar surveys conducted on the ice, as well as regular surveying techniques. Travel to the study sites will be via helicopter and small inflatable craft. Snowmobiles may be used during the winter. Posters will display research at the Aurora Research Institute, and seminars will be presented to community organizations. The study will be conducted from March 1 to October 31, 2007. The 66 study lakes are located in a transect north of the town of Inuvik, NWT.