Groundwater flow dynamics in cold environments under a changing climate

气候变化下寒冷环境中的地下水流动态

基本信息

批准号：
RGPIN-2016-05939
负责人：
Lemieux, JeanMichel
金额：
$ 2.11万
依托单位：
Université Laval
依托单位国家：
加拿大
项目类别：
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
财政年份：
2019
资助国家：
加拿大
起止时间：
2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=683109
关键词：
Groundwater flow dynamics cold environments

项目摘要

Groundwater is an important source of freshwater for many Canadians. In northern environments, groundwater is scarce as it is mostly frozen within permafrost and cannot be readily used for water supply. As a consequence of climate change and associated increases in air temperatures, permafrost is thawing on a global scale. The consequence is that water is released and groundwater may become an important new resource as it is generally safer, more reliable and less expensive than surface water, which is the most common source of drinking water for communities in northern Canada. In southern Canada and elsewhere in the world, much of the existing groundwater resources were emplaced thousands of years ago in colder environments. Some of these waters originated from the melting of ice sheets that covered extensive parts of the northern hemisphere landscape about 21,000 years ago. In some locations like Estonia, groundwater of glacial origin is an important source of non-renewable freshwater.***The sound and sustainable management of these resources requires a good scientific understanding of their origin and extent, as well as the driving forces acting on them. Numerical models are powerful tools that can be used for this purpose. In this research program, complex numerical models that enable predicting groundwater flow dynamics and availability in cold environments under a changing climate will be used and validated with field observations. The research will be conducted at two sites located in Nunavik (Umiujaq and Salluit) along with two other sites located in southern Québec and Estonia. The research will include field experiments and simulation of groundwater flow and temperature under past and future climate change scenarios at time scales ranging from 100 to 100,000 yrs.***The research conducted in this program will provide fundamental knowledge about the nature and evolution of groundwater resources in northern environments. This will contribute to northern development by strengthening Canada's ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions as they affect groundwater resources. The research proposal also addresses key scientific questions pertaining to the fate of glacial meltwaters and rates of permafrost degradation in response to climate change.***********

对于许多加拿大人来说，地下水是淡水的重要来源。在北部环境中，地下水稀缺，因为它主要是在多年冻土内冷冻的，并且不能容易用于供水。由于气候变化和空气温度的相关升高，永久冻土在全球范围内解冻。结果是水被释放，地下水可能成为重要的新资源，因为它通常是安全，更可靠且比地表水便宜的，这是加拿大北部社区最常见的饮用水来源。在加拿大南部和世界其他地方，许多现有的地下水资源被数千年前在较冷的环境中汇集。其中一些水域起源于冰盖的融化，大约21，000年前，冰块覆盖了北半球景观的广泛部分。在像爱沙尼亚这样的某些地方，冰川来源的地下水是不可再生淡水的重要来源。数值模型是可用于此目的的强大工具。在该研究计划中，将使用现场观测来使用并验证复杂的数值模型，以预测寒冷环境中的地下水流动动力学和可用性。这项研究将在位于Nunavik（Umiujaq和Salluit）的两个地点以及位于魁北克南部和爱沙尼亚南部的其他两个地点进行。这项研究将包括现场实验和在过去和未来的气候变化方案下的地下水流量和温度的模拟，范围从100到100,000年。这将通过增强加拿大在影响地下水资源时适应不断变化的环境状况的能力来促进北部的发展。该研究建议还解决了与冰川熔融的命运有关的关键科学问题，以及响应气候变化的多年冻土降解率。******