Hydrological and geomorphic controls over permafrost landscape degradation

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My research group works to determine the processes and impacts associated with climate and permafrost change in polar regions. We combine hydrological, geomorphological, remote sensing and modelling approaches to determine how different hydrological conditions lead to high soil pore water pressure and predict where these conditions will cause land instability and disturbance. Permafrost disturbance is a major hazard in northern Canada, and affects community and industry infrastructure. The research carried out my group is necessary to support planning and design that will to reduce the impact of permafrost disturbance on the land and water. The objective of this research program is to significantly advance our fundamental knowledge of how climate, water and soil properties interact to cause permafrost landscape instability, and to improve our understanding of the spatial distribution of land susceptible to disturbance. This research requires an integrated approach that uses focused field studies with instruments and sampling to track the movement of water in the soil and measure the seasonal accumulation and thaw of soil ice. This data is used to determine the weather, soil and terrain factors that lead to high soil pore water pressure that can result in disturbance. My research program will also use advanced satellite and aircraft remote sensing techniques to efficiently estimate thaw and infer soil ice content across vast areas. These data sets are combined to model the spatial pattern of soil disturbance susceptibility and verified with field mapping of past disturbances. This program represents an innovative integrated research approach to improve our understanding of the processes and conditions that result in permafrost disturbance and land instability, and will also generate new mapping strategies that can be utilized by land managers to minimize risk to infrastructure and avoid environmental impacts. The proposed program will train 13 HQP and provide them with invaluable technical expertise with environmental instrumentation, sampling, mapping and statistical modelling techniques. Additionally, they will obtain training in a wide range of field planning, permitting and management skills and gain extensive experience working in remote field settings. Students will be prepared to take on leadership roles in environmental and land management, resource development and hazard assessment fields, as well as in applied and basic research.