NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, South Slave Region

Tags: physical sciences, soil, wildfire, organic carbon

Objective(s): To measure the age and stock of organic carbon derived from wildfires (fire-derived carbon) in the Mackenzie River region and examine long- and short-term processes controlling the size and distribution of fire-derived carbon stocks in soils.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4956. The objective of this project are to measure the age and stock of organic carbon derived from wildfires (fire-derived carbon) in the Mackenzie River region and examine long- and short-term processes controlling the size and distribution of fire-derived carbon stocks in soils. The research team will measure fire-derived carbon stocks in soils and measure its age (radiocarbon dating) at 11 locations within the catchment , which was selected in 2019 already (with 7 in the NWT and 4 in AB), in order to quantify and determine the fire-derived carbon pool size and distribution. The research team will use a combination of different ecosystem units (e.g. high and low slope, forest and grassland and duration of permafrost) to identify the main drivers of the fate of fire-derived carbon in the Mackenzie catchment. The team use small pits excavated by hand using a spate and sample top- and subsoils (0-60cm). In total, the team have 100 pits across the whole study area and. This quantification and dating will help to understand the long-term processes controlling Fire-derived carbon cycling. The research team also use labelled fire-derived carbon (grass grown in a controlled environment with 13C enriched atmosphere and charred) in mesocosms (metallic tubes 7 cm in diameter and 10 cm height) placed in the topsoil, at the same location mentioned above, for two years in order to quantify short-term processes. The team installed in total 350 mesocosms in summer 2019 and collect them again in summer 2021. The team will use the gained information of the cycling of labelled fire-derived carbon within two years to determine controlling short-term processes. Due to the previous fieldwork in 2019, the research team already have direct contact to the Northwest Territory Métis Nation in Fort Smith and also to members of the community in Inuvik. The team plan to present the results from the last field campaign to the Métis Nation and are already in contact to organize their support (e.g. wildlife monitors). The team are also in contact with the Wood Buffalo National Park and plan to present the results when in Fort Smith. The team also organize the access license and their support for the work in the National Park. Moreover, the team also have been in contact with the Environment and Natural Resources office in Fort Smith to report the results. The research team have communication to the South Slave Aurora College and the college in Inuvik to present the work and results to the members and students of the college. Therefore, the team will plan additional time to present the work in the NWT to the communities and different institutions. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 3, 2021 to August 14, 2021.