NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: physical sciences, arctic rivers, water sampling, climate change, limnology, water chemistry

Objective(s): To make measurements of the concentration of naturally-occurring chemicals (like carbon and nitrogen) and try to figure out whether or not they are changing.

Project Description: The Arctic Great Rivers Observatory project studies the six largest rivers in the Arctic; the Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers in North America and the Ob', Yenisey, Lena, and Kolyma Rivers in Russia. The research team is interested in how climate change is impacting Arctic rivers. The team will make measurements of the concentration of naturally-occurring chemicals (like carbon and nitrogen) and try to figure out whether or not they are changing. The plan is to collect water samples from the Mackenzie River near the Tsiigehtchic ferry crossing. Samples will be collected on six days per year, once every other month. Samples will be collected from boat or through the ice at the well-established site used by the Water Survey of Canada by immersing a collection bottle in the water at the water surface, or by using a water bottle that can be 'unplugged' and filled with water deeper in the water column. Samples will be filtered and frozen or refrigerated in plastic bottles. The research team will also measure water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, and water conductivity. On each sampling day, less than 16 litres of water will be collected. The research team will be collecting water samples six times per year from the Mackenzie River near Tsiigehtchic, using a boat or through the ice. An Inuvik resident will be overseeing the sampling, and a Tsiigehtchic resident will be hired to assist with sampling. Previous outreach activities have included presentations to the Renewable Resources Council in Tsiigehtchic, and several presentations to school children in Tsiigehtchic and Inuvik. The team will continue to pursue similar opportunities in the future. In 2005, the principal investigator presented to the Renewable Resources Council in Tsiigehtchic and gave two presentations to the school at Tsiigehtchic. In 2011, members of the research team gave presentations to several classes at the Inuvik elementary and high schools, and took these classes to a sampling site on the East Channel in Inuvik to demonstrate some of the sampling techniques and allow the students to gain hands-on experience with water sampling methods. The team will pursue similar opportunities in the future, and can also prepare a poster describing the project for display at the Aurora Research Institute. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 16, 2013 to December 31, 2013.