NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: physical sciences, water quality, arctic rivers, climate change, hydrology, water chemistry

Objective(s): To study 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.

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 are interested in how climate change is impacting Arctic rivers. The team make measurements of the concentration of naturally-occurring chemicals (like carbon and nitrogen) and try to determine whether or not they are changing. The research team plan 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. Water will be collected by immersing a sample bottle directly underneath the water surface, or by using a bottle that is able to collect a water sample from a discrete depth. 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 team will not be collecting any fish or invertebrates. The research team are happy to present the results to community members in Tsiigehtchic, through community presentations, presentations to school kids, or via any other venue. The team also make the results of the research available on the project website (www.arcticgreatrivers.org). The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.