NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region, South Slave Region, Qikiqtaaluk Region

Tags: physical sciences, environmental change, ecosystem changes, airborne, hyperspectral

Objective(s): To encompass the variability in the key types of ecosystems that are both unique to arctic and boreal regions in North America as well as being representative of the larger Northern High Latitude region and collect water and leaf samples to provide “ground truth” references for airborne and satellite imagery.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5601. From 2017 – 2022, ABoVE airborne teams collected data across a wide variety of ecosystems in both the US and Canada. Depending on available funds, the team may re-fly one of the sensors to collect hyperspectral data at several locations in 2023. For 2023, the NASA Dynamic Aviation King Air B-200 aircraft with a hyperspectral (AVIRIS-III) instrument will re-fly lines in the ABoVE study area. The flight teams will be based out of the Yellowknife airfield. The aircraft flies at an altitude between 5 – 15 km. The research team hopes to fly the AVIRIS-III instrument between July August 31, 2023. Overall flight coordination will be completed as required through official channels with the U.S. FAA and Transport Canada. These instruments have been cleared by NASA internal safety reviews, and the U.S. FCC has given authority to operate, and similarly in Canada, the Ministry of Industry has approved their operating parameters for the radar system. The instruments will not leave behind any footprint of its use. All sensor systems are fully integrated into the aircraft and no sensor will be deployed outside the aircraft. This remote sensing instrument has been used around the world on various other NASA projects with no environmental impacts ever reported. More detailed operating description of the instrument is available by request. While the flight team is in Yellowknife they plan to host an open house at the FBO for people who would like to meet the flight crew and scientists. The research team has been emailing the following communities with information about plans, offering to answer any questions and address concerns: Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee, Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope), Gwichin Renewable Resources Board, Lustel K’e Dene First Nation, Li´i´dli?i? Ku´e´ First Nation, Behchoko`, Dehcho First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Additionally, the research team has added extra lines around Great Bear Lake after discussions with colleagues. The research team has confirmation that the prior year application for exemption of environmental impact screening for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region is still valid. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 28, 2023 August 31, 2023.