NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Principal Investigator: England, John H
Licensed Year(s): 1993 1990
Summary: The effects of glaciation on the arctic landscape remain uncertain and much more mapping and field studies remain to be done. Although it is commonly assumed that global warming will lead to the melting of glaciers, this view ignores the more important role that snowfall plays in the growth of glaciers (i.e., warmer climate leads to increased snowfall and a growth in glaciers). This study will e...

Principal Investigator: Gregor, Dennis J.
Licensed Year(s): 1993
Summary: Contaminants are carried in the air to the arctic during the winter when large-scale wind movements bring these contaminants from industrialized locations in North America, Europe and Asia to the north. Snow can collect these compounds from the air and bring them to the ground where they can accumulate. Thus, it is important to study the amount of contaminants in snow to determine the types and ...

Principal Investigator: Heron, Richard
Licensed Year(s): 1993 1990
Summary: As part of an ongoing study in which field work was conducted in 1989 and 1990, this year's work will involve a study of the effects that snowdrifts can have on blocking the movement of meltwater in the McMaster River during the spring. Snowdrifts located at several sites along the river will be monitored to determine how they can alter the river's course, how these drifts are eventually broken d...

Principal Investigator: Moore, Robert M.
Licensed Year(s): 1993 1992
Summary: Previous research has indicated that compounds containing bromine could play a role in the destruction of the ozone layer. This study is part of on-going research that is examining how important northern marine waters are as sources of bromine to the Arctic atmosphere. Seawater, snow and ice will be collected and assessed for bromine. In addition, measurements will be taken to determine if seaw...

Principal Investigator: Gregor, Dennis J.
Licensed Year(s): 1994 1993
Summary: Ice caps have been used to measure changes in the chemistry of the atmosphere over long periods of time. The studies have addressed climate change, levels of pollutants resulting from human activities, and levels of materials put into the atmosphere by natural processes (e.g., volcano eruptions). This on-going study has been examining the levels of contaminants in ice caps since 1986 by collecti...

Principal Investigator: Burn, Chris R
Licensed Year(s): 1993 1992
Summary: This on-going research involves the assessment of isotopes in snowpack each winter. Collection of snow and ice at various sites along winter roads in the N.W.T. provides information about the composition of isotopes within a region. Isotopic composition of snow and ice taken from ice cores in Greenland and Antarctica have been able to provide information about past climates....

Principal Investigator: Kershaw, G. Peter
Licensed Year(s): 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1990
Summary: The research is planned to see what happens after the surface of the land was changed by clearing of the trees and trenching of the soil in 1985 and 1986 and the spilling of crude-oil in 1988. Ways to fix or lessen these disturbances will be tested to see which are best. Many studies will be done including measurement of air and soil temperatures, wind speed, moisture, water movement, permafrost, ...

Principal Investigator: Soulis, E.D. (Ric)
Licensed Year(s): 1992
Summary: The purpose of the project is to improve the ways we have to predict the spring floods in the smaller rivers. Floods from snowmelt are a particular concern in northern rivers. In the Ft. Simpson area, spring flows from the smaller rivers, which are tributaries to the Liard and Mackenzie, have a great deal to do with the timing and nature of breakup on the major rivers. Snow conditions will be surv...

Principal Investigator: Koerner, Roy M
Licensed Year(s): 1995 1992 1991
Summary: This is a continuing project to gather information to understand the past climate in the high Arctic. The data will also be used to determine the present climatic trends and pollution levels in the snow....

Principal Investigator: Gregor, Dennis J.
Licensed Year(s): 1992 1991 1991 1990
Summary: Snow samples will be collected from approximately 30 sites across the NWT and Yukon in the spring of the year. This annual snow pack sample will allow an estimate of the quantity of organic contaminants that have been deposited over the winter season. To better understand the fate of these contaminants in the High Arctic, the researchers will undertake an intensive small basin study on Cornwallis ...