NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: physical sciences, hydrology, prediction models, snow

Objective(s): To develop improved understanding of, and ability to predict, snowcover formation and melt, as well as stream discharge in northern regions; to consider the integrated effect of climate on vegetation, snow, permafrost, streamflow, and lakes; and to develop improved predictive models.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5496. The objectives of this project are: 1) to develop improved understanding of, and ability to predict, snowcover formation and melt, as well as stream discharge in northern regions; 2) consider the integrated effect of climate on vegetation, snow, permafrost, streamflow, and lakes; and 4) develop improved predictive models. These will allow a better understanding of the impact of climate change and/or natural resource development on the water resources of the NWT. Field trips over the winter will be to check sensors and carry out snow measurements within the measurement area of these snow sensors. The research team will then start longer duration field observations in late March or early April for measurement of end of winter snow on the ground by using manual snow surveys and airborne sensors. At this time the research team will also install new instrumentation and carry out maintenance on existing sensors. The team will use various methods to measure snowmelt, soil moisture, evaporation, streamflow and lake levels. The base camp is located at Trail Valley Creek (at the same site the team has had a camp from 1991 to about 2005, and 2015 to present) and will have researchers at this camp until the fall (from mid- September or into November depending on requirements). Instrumentation and the camp will be prepared for winter in September or October and the team will leave the camp at that time. A team member will visit the camp during winter. Community engagement is also a priority for the research program and is fulfilled through public engagements including public lectures, student presentations for the Aurora Research Institute Summer Speaker Series, participation in Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Discovery science event in Inuvik, and through numerous hands-on public and high-school workshops and presentations focused on teaching youth about science and climate change in their region. In 2022 the researchers were involved in community outreach through participating in the Inuvik Arctic Market with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities and contests for local youth. Building on previous years, the team also contract local members from the Inuvik Community Corporation to join researchers as field assistants. In 2022 several members of the Inuvik Community Corporation were deeply involved in our field program as well as co-authoring scientific publications and conference proceedings. The program will continue to develop the collaboration with local groups in Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk including the Inuvialuit Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC), the Inuvialuit Land Corporation, and the Gwichi’n Renewable Resources Board (GRRB). The team have developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Wilfrid Laurier University and the FJMC (and signed at a high level in both organizations) to outline the collaborative nature of our research program and to ensure that our research is directly addressing FJMC needs. FJMC staff are involved in developing our research proposals and field plans, and we expect them to be involved in our field programs. The research team have also developed an MOU with the Aurora Research Institute (ARI), Western Arctic Research Centre, to collaborate on the operation of our Trail Valley site and we have an agreement for ARI staff to be fully involved in the field program. In recent years, ARI technicians have worked alongside researchers at Trail Valley on numerous projects. In addition, Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) – Laurier Partnership (recently extended to 2030) provides extensive opportunities for us to collaborate with various GNWT groups, including the Department of Transportation (with an interest in the impacts of the Inuvik-Tuk Highway) and Environment and Natural Resources (with interests in water resources, climate change, and wildlife). The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from March 17, 2023 to December 31, 2023.