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

永久冻土环境退化中地下水资源的演变：加拿大努纳维克 Umiujaq 北部社区的可持续水供应和管理

• 批准号: 447423-2013
• 负责人: Therrien, René
• 金额: $ 8.68万
• 依托单位: Université Laval
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Strategic Projects - Group
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=575310
• 关键词: Groundwater; resources; evolution; degrading; permafrost

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.

加拿大的气候正在发生变化，对水周期和水资源的影响对于人类和生态系统健康以及经济发展至关重要，尤其是在北部。北部社区已经感受到了许多影响，包括融化多年冻土和地表水质和可用性的退化。对地下水的影响在很大程度上是未知的，但是随着永久冻结和水的释放，地下水可能会成为重要的新资源，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努纳维克地区Umiujaq北部社区附近的一个2公里的分水岭盆地，将地下水用作北部地区的可持续资源的潜力。 流域内不断发展的水质系统将是通过首先表征地下地质结构和多年冻土的分布，以及随着时间的推移监测地下水和地表水条件来定义的。当地的天气状况也将受到监控。数据将集成到盆地的三维水文地质概念和数值模型中，这将允许确定气候变化对地下水系统的当前和未来影响及其作为资源的生存能力。当地社区将使用结果来确定将地下水用作可靠的新饮用水来源的潜力，以及我们的合作伙伴魁北克可持续发展，环境，野生动植物和公园（MDDEFP）制定长期供水政策，以制定北部社区的长期供水政策，并有助于维持地产经济发展。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，也可以实现很大的优势。