Arctic hydrogeology and paleoclimatology

冰冻圈大约占加拿大陆地面积的一半，下面是常年冻结的永久冻土，这极大地改变了我们所知道的在温带地区通过流域控制水运动的机制。通过永久冻土带的地下水运动是北极水文循环的重要组成部分，因为它为鱼类产卵栖息地提供了基础流。它参与了内层石的形成，生物矿化，保存了古气候信息以及极端环境下的生命信息。地下水在塔里克的长期影响还包括在冰期/间冰期循环尺度上对北部采矿和核废料贮存的影响。虽然我们对今天北方地下水的作用所知甚少，但对它在过去北极气候下的作用所知更少。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。我们在这个广阔而偏远的地区的工作依赖于同位素和地球化学的使用，它们是水的天然示踪剂。在测量矿物和沉积物时，这些工具提供了过去气候的信息。在过去的三年中，我们的实验室能力得到了极大的扩展，包括新的和令人兴奋的分析能力。在发现基金的支持下，我的工作开始了北极研究的一个新阶段，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了新的发现。

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.