Groundwater resources evolution in degrading permafrost environments: Sustainable water availability and management in the northern community of Umiujaq, Nunavik, Canada

加拿大的气候正在发生变化，由此对水循环和水资源产生的影响对人类和生态系统健康以及经济发展至关重要，特别是在北方。北方社区已经感受到许多影响，包括永久冻土融化和地表水质量和可用性的退化。对地下水的影响在很大程度上是未知的，但随着永久冻土的融化和水的释放，地下水可能成为一种重要的新资源，因为它通常比地表水更安全、更可靠、更便宜。这项研究将通过调查魁北克省努纳维克地区Umiujaq北部社区附近一个2平方公里的小流域盆地，确定将地下水作为北部地区可持续资源的潜力。流域内不断演变的水文地质系统将首先通过描述地下地质结构和永久冻土的分布特征，并通过监测地下水和地表水的长期状况来确定。当地的天气状况也将受到监测。这些数据将纳入该盆地的三维水文地质概念和数值模型，从而确定气候变化对地下水系统的当前和未来影响及其作为一种资源的可行性。研究结果将被当地社区用来确定使用地下水作为可靠的新饮用水来源的潜力，并由我们的合作伙伴魁北克可持续发展、环境、野生动物和公园部（MDDEFP）为不断增长的北部社区制定长期供水政策，并维持区域经济发展。随着新的地下水资源可用于魁北克和整个加拿大北部的采矿、林业和旅游业，也可实现重大的优势。

Canada's climate is changing and the resulting impact on the water cycle and on water resources is of critical importance to human and ecosystem health and for economic development, especially in the north. Many effects are already being felt in northern communities, including thawing of permafrost and degradation of surface water quality and availability. Impacts on groundwater are largely unknown, however as the permafrost thaws and water is released, groundwater may become a significant new resource as it is generally safer, more reliable and less expensive than surface water. This research will determine the potential of using groundwater as a sustainable resource in northern regions by investigating a small 2 km2 watershed basin near the northern community of Umiujaq, in the region of Nunavik, Quebec. The evolving hydrogeological system within the watershed will be defined by first characterizing the subsurface geologic structure and the distribution of permafrost, and by monitoring groundwater and surface water conditions over time. Local weather conditions will also be monitored. The data will be integrated into a three-dimensional hydrogeological conceptual and numerical model of the basin, which will allow determining the present and future impacts of climate change on the groundwater system and its viability as a resource. The outcomes will be used by the local community to identify the potential of using groundwater as a reliable new source of drinking water, and by our partner the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks (MDDEFP) to develop long-term water supply policy for growing northern communities, and for sustaining regional economic development. Significant advantages could also be realized as new groundwater resources become available for the mining, forestry and tourism industries in Quebec and throughout Canada's north.