Arctic hydrogeology and paleoclimatology

北极水文地质学和古气候学

• 批准号: 42590-2007
• 负责人: Clark, Ian
• 金额: $ 2.63万
• 依托单位: University of Ottawa
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2007-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=364670
• 关键词: Arctic; hydrogeology; paleoclimatology

The cryosphere constitutes roughly one half of Canada's land mass, and is underlain by perennially frozen terrain - permafrost - that greatly alters the mechanisms we know to govern water movement through watersheds in temperate landscapes. Groundwater movement through talik (unfrozen) zones in permafrost is an important component of the Arctic hydrological cycle, as it provides base flow for fish spawning habitat. It is involved in the formation of endostromatolites, biomineralizations that hold paleoclimate information as well as information on life in extreme environments. Long-term impacts of groundwater in talik also include effects on mining in the north and on nuclear waste repositories over the scale of glacial/interglacial cycles. While little is known about the role of groundwater in the north today, even less is understood about its role under past Arctic climates.The challenge of Arctic hydrogeology and paleohydrogeology is in the development of new research approaches that elucidate changes to groundwater flow systems under changing climates, past, present and future. Our work in this vast and remote region relies on the use of isotopes and geochemistry, which are natural tracers of water. When measured in minerals and sediments, these tools provide information on past climates. Our laboratory capabilities have greatly expanded over the past three years to include new and exciting analytical capabilities. Together with Discovery Grant support, my work embarks upon a new phase of Arctic research involving new students and collaborators, making new discoveries in Arctic hydrogeology and paleoclimatology.

冰冻圈约占加拿大陆地面积的一半，其下是常年冻土地带--永久冻土--这极大地改变了我们所知道的在温带景观中管理流域水运动的机制。地下水通过永久冻土层talik（未冻结）区的流动是北极水文循环的一个重要组成部分，因为它为鱼类产卵生境提供了基流。它参与了内基质层的形成，生物矿化作用保存了古气候信息以及极端环境中的生命信息。talik地下水的长期影响还包括在冰川/间冰期循环范围内对北部采矿和核废料储存库的影响。尽管人们对北极地区地下水的作用知之甚少，但对它在过去北极气候条件下的作用更是知之甚少。北极水文地质学和古水文地质学的挑战在于开发新的研究方法，阐明过去、现在和未来气候变化下地下水流动系统的变化。我们在这一广阔而偏远地区的工作依赖于同位素和地球化学的使用，这是水的天然示踪剂。当测量矿物和沉积物时，这些工具提供了过去气候的信息。在过去的三年里，我们的实验室能力大大扩展，包括新的和令人兴奋的分析能力。随着发现补助金的支持，我的工作开始了北极研究的新阶段，涉及新的学生和合作者，在北极水文地质学和古气候学方面有新的发现。