Collaborative Research: Assessing the Impact of Small, Canadian Arctic River Flows (SCARFs) to the Freshwater Budget of the Canadian Archipelago

这项为期三年的研究提出了在加拿大北极群岛（CAA）的基本上未经研究的，偏远的河流和河口的地球化学特征，最终目的是解决当地淡水输入CAA边界电流的贡献。调查人员将针对七条河流进行采样。河流采样将发生在不同的流量制度，但将强调在春季淡水，一年中的时间，当陆地径流从当地CAA河流最大限度地影响沿海沃茨的样本收集。河口采样将包括水平和垂直剖面。将使用混合模型和回归分析对数据进行综合和解释，并与麦肯齐河和育空地区河的数据进行比较，这两条河在历史上被认为是北美流入北极的“典型”河流。在一个温暖的世界里，冰川融化和水文循环的加速可能会增加当地对CAA的淡水输入。因为许多这样的变化可能已经在进行中，所以建立一个基线很重要，可以比较未来的变化。拟议的研究对从北极和亚北极海洋向北大西洋输出淡水的变化和幅度有影响，研究结果将有助于填补CAA河流地球化学和北极淡水循环知识的重大空白。该项目将促进应用物理实验室和西北大学的教师，研究人员和学生之间的新伙伴关系。此外，研究将包括当地社区成员的亲身参与，他们将在一年中的不同时间收集样本，以扩大研究的时间范围。数据将通过网站和数据库公开提供，以实现最大程度的可见性、分散性和长期存档。其他活动包括教授和培训一名博士后学生，将项目研究结果纳入课程材料，以及向传统上代表性不足的K-12学生进行宣传。

This three-year study proposes to characterize the geochemistry of the largely unstudied, remote rivers and estuaries in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA), with the ultimate aim of resolving the contribution of local freshwater inputs to CAA boundary currents. The investigators will target seven rivers for sampling. River sampling will occur during different flow regimes, but will emphasize sample collection during the spring freshet, the time of year when terrestrial runoff from local CAA rivers maximally impacts coastal waters. Estuarine sampling will include both horizontal and vertical profiles. The data will be synthesized and interpreted using mixing models and regression analyses, and compared with data for the Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers, which have historically been considered "typical" for North American runoff to the Arctic. Acceleration of glacial melt and the hydrologic cycle in a warmer world will likely increase local inputs of freshwater to the CAA. Because many such changes may already be underway, it is important to establish a baseline by which future changes can be compared. The proposed research has implications regarding the variability and magnitude of freshwater export from the Arctic and subarctic oceans to the North Atlantic, and the findings will help fill significant gaps in the knowledge of CAA river geochemistry and the Arctic freshwater cycle. The project will catalyze a new partnership among faculty, researchers, and students at the Applied Physics Laboratory and Northwestern University. Moreover, the research will include hands-on participation from local community members who will collect samples during various times of year to extend the temporal coverage of the study. Data will be made publicly available via websites and databases for maximum visibility, dispersion, and long-term archival. Additional activities include teaching and training of a postdoctoral student, incorporation of project findings into curricular materials, and outreach to K-12 students from traditionally underrepresented groups.