The biophysical significance of groundwater and ground ice in cold polar environments

远北是加拿大最具挑战性的研究环境之一，不仅它的自然系统与其他地方不同，而且北极实地考察的障碍（科学和后勤）是巨大的。北极也是驱动海洋和大气环流的最重要的全球系统之一。它也被广泛认为是全球气候变化的“煤矿里的金丝雀”。最近有迹象表明，北极气候的变化速度比几年前预测的要快。像北极这样的极端环境为我们理解地球上物理和生物过程的极限提供了重要线索。在地球极地地区的经验教训正被用来更好地了解火星等邻近行星。我的研究集中在北方科学的两个重要方面。首先，极端寒冷与生物物理系统之间的动态相互作用，特别是低温和多年冻土对多年生泉水水文和微生物特征的影响。其次，气候变化对永久冻土景观和基础设施的潜在影响。我的研究采用详细的测量，采样和建模在一系列的北方地区，以更好地了解地表和地下水水文的耦合，表面的能量，水和化学物质的交换，和微生物过程，共同控制的物理和生物化学系统的动态冻土和寒冷的极地沙漠。它还试图解释冻土和气候之间的动态相互作用，地表和地下冰的形成和退化，以响应不断变化的气候。本研究通过调查北极全球变化、地球系统演变和关注在北方资源可持续管理中发挥重要作用的主题，解决了NSERC的一些目标领域。在NSERC的重新分配建议中，北方和气候变化也被确定为优先事项。

The far North represents one of the most challenging research environments in Canada, not only does it's natural systems behave differently than elsewhere, but the obstacles to Arctic fieldwork (both scientific and logistical) are enormous. The Arctic is also one of the most important global systems driving ocean and atmospheric circulation. It is also widely recognised as "the canary in the coal mine" for global climate change.  There are recent indications that Arctic climates are changing faster than predicted only a few years ago. Extreme environments like the Arctic provide important clues in our understanding about the limits of physical and biological processes on Earth. Lessons learned in Earth's Polar Regions are being used to develop a better understanding of neighboring planets like Mars.My research focuses on two important aspects of the northern science. First, the dynamic interaction between extreme cold and biophysical systems, in particular the impact of cold temperature and permafrost on the hydrologic and microbiologic character of perennial springs. And secondly, the potential impacts of climate change on permafrost landscapes and infrastructure. My research employs detailed measurement, sampling and modelling in a series of northern locations to better understand the coupling of surface and ground water hydrology, the surface exchange of energy, water and chemical mass, and microbial processes that together control the dynamics of physical and biochemical systems of permafrost and cold polar deserts. It also seeks to explain the dynamic interaction between frozen ground and climate, the formation and degradation of surface and subsurface ice in response to changing climates. This research addresses some of NSERC targeted areas by investigating Arctic global change, Earth system evolution and focusing on topics that play a major role in the sustainable management of northern resources. The North and climate change were also identified as priorities in NSERC's re-allocation recommendations.