Base de données de recherche des TNO

Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

étiquettes: physical sciences, arctic rivers, climate change, hydrology, water chemistry

Objectif(s): To measure how climate change is impacting Arctic rivers.

Description du projet: 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 research team will take measurements of the concentration of naturally-occurring chemicals (like carbon and nitrogen) and try to figure out whether or not they are changing. The research team plans 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 liters of water will be collected. The team will not be collecting any fish or invertebrates. 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 the team will additionally seek a local (Tsiigehtchic or Inuvik) assistant for each sampling effort. Previous outreach activities have included presentations to the Renewable Resources Council in Tsiigehtchic, and several presentations to school children in Tsiigehtchic and Inuvik. The research team will continue to pursue similar opportunities in the future. The team will also prepare a poster describing the project for display at the Aurora Research Institute. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 12, 2015 to December 31, 2015.