Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area
Tags: physical sciences, paleolimnology, environmental change, meteorology, dendrochronology, boreal forests
| Principal Investigator: | Pisaric, Michael FJ (18) |
| Licence Number: | 14329 |
| Organization: | Carleton University - Department of Geography and Environmental Studies |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2008
2007
2006
2005
|
| Issued: | Apr 22, 2008 |
| Project Team: | Trevor Porter (Researcher, Carleton University), Peter Demontingy (Research Assistant, Carleton University), Joshua Thienpont (Researcher, Queen's University), Kathleen Rhuland (Research Partner, Queen's University), John Smol (Research Partner, Queen's University), Jules Blais (Research Partner, University of Ottawa) |
Objective(s): The objective of this research is to study the impacts of climate change on boreal and aquatic ecosystems in the Mackenzie Delta region.
Project Description: The objective of this research is to study the impacts of climate change on boreal and aquatic ecosystems in the Mackenzie Delta region. By doing so, the researchers hope to gain a better understanding of the effects of long-term climate change on these ecosystems. Their study will utilize dendrochronological and paleolimnological methods to examine spruce forests and lake sites situated in the inner delta and on the adjacent uplands. The objective of this research is to study the impacts of climate change on boreal and aquatic ecosystems in the Mackenzie Delta region utilizing dendrochronological and paleolimnological methods. Transportation to and from sites will be by helicopter and boat. Trees at Blueberry site will be instrumented with automatic point dendrometers as in past summers. The dendrometers consist of two small screws inserted into the trunk of the tree, a mechanical balance, and a wire from the tree to a central data logger. Phytograms will also be used, consisting of small pins inserted through tree needles connected to a data transfer wire. A small meteorological station will be set up at this site to measure temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and soil moisture. At all other forest sites, core samples will be taken from 30-50 trees/site, and cross-sections may be cut from dead trees. At lake sites a sediment core will be retrieved from the deepest portion, and water temperature, conductivity, and pH measurements will be taken. A sample of lake water will be recovered from below the surface and analyzed for major ion, nutrient and metal concentrations. Fieldwork will be mostly carried out between June 1 and August 31, but the researchers may be returning to sites later. A local field assistant will be hired. Results will be communicated in reports, publications, presentations, and/or posters, and copies sent to the Aurora Research Institute along with resulting theses. Fieldwork will be conducted from June 01 to December 31, 2008 at around 30 sites in the central and western Mackenzie Delta, and east of the Delta around Noell Lake. Part of the sites are spruce forests and part are lakes. The study will be based out of Inuvik.
