Modeling changes in permafrost conditions along the Dempster Highway under climate change
Principal Investigator: Moore, Jeffrey L (1)
Licence Number: 15479
Organization: Carleton University
Licensed Year(s): 2014
Issued: Jun 09, 2014
Project Team: Jeff Moore, Adrian Gaanderse

Objective(s): To determine how climate change will affect the thermal regime of the permafrost beneath and immediately surrounding the highway embankment.

Project Description: The purpose of the research is to determine how climate change will affect the thermal regime of the permafrost beneath and immediately surrounding the highway embankment. Objectives of this project are: 1 – to determine the present surface and subsurface thermal conditions, and the boundary conditions at each site; and 2 – to develop, calibrate, and validate a-numerical model which will be used in predicting ground thermal changes due to climate change. Each site (transect) has a 10 m deep borehole in the center of the embankment, at the toe of the embankment and 30 m (undisturbed) off the embankment, and a meteorological station installed by Yukon Highways and Public Works. The research team will be conducting topographic surveys of each transect and will categorize the vegetation. The team will dig three soil pits or drill three boreholes with a hand held auger drill, depending on how deeply the active layer has thawed. Samples will be taken for laboratory analysis from each hole. I-buttons (snow depth measurement sensors) will be installed at the toe and the undisturbed locations. They consist of a dowel with small sensors screwed to it. Near surface (1 m) thermistor cables will be installed at the toe, the undisturbed location, and halfway in between them. Results will be communicated to the Highway agencies and they will communicate it to the communities. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 10, 2014 to December 31, 2014.