The Great Bear Lake ice thickness and water quality observations under current and future climates (2022-2025)

Regions: Qikiqtaaluk Region

Tags: Remote Sensing, Hydrology, Climate Change

Principal Investigator: Kheyrollah Pour, Homa (1)
Licence Number: 17415
Organization: Wilfrid Laurier University
Licensed Year(s): 2024 2023 2022
Issued: Dec 14, 2023

Objective(s): 1) To reconstruct trends in ice phenology using remotely-sensed and ground-based observations and collective memories of land-based and in-lake changes by communities living along the shoreline of GBL; 2) To reconstruct trends of Lake Surface Temperature (LST) using remotely- sensed and ground-based observations; and, 3) To calibrate the coupled Canadian Regional Climate Model-Nucleus for European Modeling of the Ocean (CRCM- NEMO).

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5761. 1) To reconstruct trends in ice phenology using remotely-sensed and ground-based observations and collective memories of land-based and in-lake changes by communities living along the shoreline of GBL; 2) To reconstruct trends of Lake Surface Temperature (LST) using remotely- sensed and ground-based observations; and, 3) To calibrate the coupled Canadian Regional Climate Model-Nucleus for European Modeling of the Ocean (CRCM- NEMO). The research team will develop Great Bear Lake water quality algorithms for satellite-based optical properties, temperature, water quality and emissivity data collected in the visible and near-infrared and thermal range. Targeted parameters will include chlorophyll-a, turbidity and water surface temperature. We will sample water quality over the lake during the fieldwork. Multivariate analyses will be performed to identify patterns of variation and potential correlations between trends in lake water quality, lake ice coverage, and land surface temperature and vegetation. We will generate visual products documenting changes in lake water quality and biological productivity. We will also focus on the ice and snow parameterization of the model using the data that we will collect over the lake in winter including snow depth and ice thickness using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The Principal Investigator has been meeting Deline Got'ine Government (DGG) members, virtually and in-person during my visits during February 2020 and December 2023 and discussing the research plans and collaborations. I've received the letter of support from DGG. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: January 01 - December 31, 2024