Composition of natural dissolved organic carbon in streams along latitudinal transect
Principal Investigator: Turetsky, Merritt R. (4)
Licence Number: 14955
Organization: University of Guelph
Licensed Year(s): 2011
Issued: Aug 05, 2011
Project Team: David Olefeldt (Post-doctoral research fellow, University of Guelph), Merritt Turetsky (Principal Investigator, University of Guelph)

Objective(s): To measure the concentration and composition of natural dissolved organic carbon in rivers along a latitudinal transect from central Alberta to southern NWT; and to improve our knowledge on what factors control stream water quality with regards to the transport and composition of dissolved organic carbon, in order to be able to assess the impacts of continued climate change, including permafrost degradation and altered fire regimes.

Project Description: The goal of this research project is to measure the concentration and composition of natural dissolved organic carbon in rivers along a latitudinal transect from central Alberta to southern NWT. Data on water quality will be combined with spatial data that describes the drainage basins of the sampled rivers, e.g. ecosystem composition, size, slope, recent fire impact and permafrost conditions. The objective is to improve our knowledge on what factors control stream water quality with regards to the transport and composition of dissolved organic carbon - in order to be able to assess the impacts of continued climate change, including permafrost degradation and altered fire regimes. Water samples will be taken from a large number of rivers and streams along highways between central Alberta and southern NWT. All river/stream sampling will be done adjacent to the highway at culverts or by bridges. Samples of 1 litre will be taken at each site, nothing will be installed permanently and nothing will be left behind. Water samples will be analysed in lab for concentration of dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen, organic acids, cat- and anions along with spectrophotometric and fluorescing properties. Water quality data will subsequently be used in combination with results from Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis based on freely accessible spatial data on landscape composition. This research could provide knowledge on how water quality in streams and rivers is affected by climate change, including altered fire patterns and permafrost thaw in the drainage basins. Academic papers will be made available upon publication. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 22, 2011 to September 5, 2011.