NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: physical sciences, vegetation, atmospheric sciences, meteorology, methane

Objective(s): The objectives of this study are to quantify the surface-atmosphere methane emissions over large areas, and analyse the influence of different surface and vegetation characteristics on large area methane emissions (process understanding).

Project Description: The objectives of this study are to quantify the surface-atmosphere methane emissions over large areas, and to analyze the influence of different surface and vegetation characteristics on large area methane emissions (process understanding). The research team proposes to measure methane fluxes between the tundra and the atmosphere by airborne eddy covariance, a micro-meteorological method. Fluxes of heat, water vapor and momentum have successfully been measured in multiple airborne campaigns. These studies led to improved knowledge of the structure of atmospheric turbulence and shall now be extended to trace gas fluxes. Flights will be conducted on long transects at different altitudes. The research team will be available for community science presentations or classroom visits, and when the airplane (a refurbished 70 year old DC-3) is on the ground, tours of the airplane can be arranged in which the science would be explained hands-on. The researchers will seek local knowledge of the survey areas to avoid any potential disturbance to wildlife. The previous year's results can be communicated directly through public presentations, classroom lectures, or posters in the following year. Wider dissemination of results will be achieved through peer-reviewed publications and the general media. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 15, 2013 to July 29, 2013.