Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area
Tags: physical sciences, climatology, climate change, forestry, environmental change, dendrochronology
| Principal Investigator: | Pisaric, Michael FJ (18) |
| Licence Number: | 14126 |
| Organization: | Carleton University - Department of Geography |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2008
2007
2006
2005
|
| Issued: | Mar 15, 2007 |
| Project Team: | Gregory King (Researcher, Carleton University), Trevor Porter (Researcher, Carleton University), Dr. John Smol (Research Partner, Queen's University), Dr. Jules Blais (Research Partner, University of Ottawa), Dr. Kathleen Ruhland (Research Partner, Queen's University) |
Objective(s): To understand environmental conditions in the Mackenzie Delta region, and to examine the effects of global climate change on ecosystems, developing a knowledge base for environmental decision making.
Project Description: The impact of climate change on forest ecosystems in the Mackenzie Delta is being studied using dendrochronology. Earlier studies indicate a negative relationship between tree growth and summer temperatures. Summer temperatures may be exceeding the physiological threshold of northern trees or perhaps the trees are drought stressed. Manual and automatic dendrometers will be used to measure tree growth at the Blueberry site. Manual dendrometers are steel bands wrapped around the bole of a tree and measured using an electronic caliper every 2-3 days. Automatic dendrometers use a single point sensor mounted on a tree, connected to a data logger, and log growth at 15 minute intervals. An automatic meteorological station installed at the Blueberry site will record the weather conditions hourly. These conditions will be calibrated with the growth records to determine which factors are influencing seasonal growth of the white spruce. Chemical isotopes within tree rings will be investigated by collecting tree cores (2 per tree, from 30-50 trees) and analyzing them, with the goal of reconstructing past temperatures. By comparing tree ring chronologies from outside of the Delta to within the Delta the aim is to identify an isotopic flood signal, to determine if flood frequency has changed, and what future changes can be expected. Spatial coverage of sampling will be increased to include new sites in the Delta, to examine spatial patterns of tree growth response to climate. Sites will be accessed by boat. Publications and results of studies will be made available to interested parties through the Aurora Research Institute. Fieldwork will be carried out from March 19 to December 31, 2007 at the following dendrochronology sites: Timber, 68°24'11" N 133°48'00" N; Blueberry, 68°27'95" N 133°50'47" W; Snowshoe, 68°26'24" N 133°50'53" W; Delta Hill, 68°25'24" N 133°48'53" W; NRC Lake, 68°18'44" N 133°50'26" W; Airport Site, 68°18'54" N 133°25'23" W; Western Delta Site 1, 68°14'54" N 135°02'31" W; Western Delta Site 2, 68°20'46" N 135°13'38" W; Western Delta Site 3, 68°27'13" N 135°15'00" W; Western Delta Site 4, 68°32'27" N 135°14'49" W; Western Delta Site 5, 68°41'42" N 135°15'00" W; Central Delta Site 1, 68°15'54" N 134°18'45" W; Central Delta Site 2, 68°28'50" N 134°30'55" W; Central Delta Site 3, 68°33'11" N 134°42'57" W; Central Delta Site 4, 68°40'57" N 134°53'30" W; Central Delta Site 5, 68°45'00" N 135°00'79" W; Disturbed 1, 68°27'36" N 133°30'27" W; Disturbed 2, 68°30'49" N 133°39'11" W; Disturbed 3, 68°32'16" N 133°39'29" W; Disturbed 4, 68°30'52" N 133°45'38" W; Disturbed 5, 68°34'05" N 133°33'05" W; Disturbed 6, 68°34'07" N 133°32'33" W; Disturbed 7, 68°22'48" N 133°39'13" W; Disturbed 8, 68°31'21" N 133°41'16" W; Undisturbed 1, 68°27'17" N 133°29'57" W; Undisturbed 2, 68°33'04" N 133°38'23" W; Undisturbed 3, 68°31'36" N 133°47'11" W; Undisturbed 4, 68°29'49" N 133°38'43" W; Undisturbed 5, 68°30'41" N 133°39'55" W; Undisturbed 6, 68°33'50" N 133°37'01" W; Undisturbed 7, 68°33'58" N 133°37'49" W.
