Permafrost hydrogeology

在过去几十年里，北极地区的气温不断升高，同时向河流排放的次永久冻土和永久冻土内地下水也在增加。来自多年冻土流域的水文资料显示，基流流量的年际变化很强，尽管地下水流量长期呈增加趋势。这种增加的流量会影响河流的季节性流量、春季淡水的时间和严重程度，还可能加剧季节性结冰对社区和基础设施的影响。该项目将充分利用我们最近在渥太华大学建立的加拿大唯一的加速器质谱仪设施，该设施具有非常低水平和特定化合物放射性碳的能力，以及用于惰性气体同位素分析的相关设施。该研究项目在未来五年的目标是确定地下水补给的机制，并通过永久冻土流域量化循环，气候变化的影响，以及污染物如何通过这些流动系统的组成部分运输。放电数据的光谱分析显示与加拿大西部北极观测到的气候现象有很强的相关性，包括太阳周期和厄尔尼诺现象。这项合作研究将结合对历史水文和气候数据集的光谱和统计分析，以及对稳定同位素、放射性同位素和惰性气体的实地调查和实验室分析，建立一个关于地下水循环的季节时间、机制和气候控制的综合模型。***与北方团体（育空学院，Gwitch'in土地和水务局；育空水资源调查，育空环境）的合作将继续提供通道，通过偏远地区的实地指南，为项目HQP和北方知识提供抽样援助。通过采样来表征淡水前期和春季淡水至冻结期的地下水基流特征。分析包括同位素和碳体系（13C和14C、DIC、CH4、DOC、乙酸酯等馏分）。该计划将在污染地点进行新的研究，以帮助计算土壤中污染物的生物降解率。我们将测量受开发影响流域的生物降解率和有机污染物迁移率。*** HQP在这项工作中获得了广泛的北方研究经验，并接触到我们新的高级研究中心（ARC）的最新分析方法，包括AMS放射性碳和惰性气体。该研究项目是为数不多的考虑永久冻土水文的地下水成分和有机污染物在这些系统中的命运的研究项目之一。这对一个在气候制度变化之际加速发展的地区尤其重要。

Increasing temperatures in the Arctic over the past decades has been accompanied by an increase in sub-permafrost and intra-permafrost groundwater discharge to rivers. Hydrometric data from permafrost drainage basins show strong interannual variability in baseflow discharge, although with a long term trend towards increased groundwater discharge. This increased flow can affect seasonal discharge in rivers, the timing and severity of the spring freshet and may also exacerbate the impact of seasonal icing (aufeis) formation on communities and infrastructure. This program will take full advantage of Canada's only accelerator mass spectrometer facility that we recently established at the University of Ottawa, with capabilities for very low level and compound-specific radiocarbon plus associated facilities for noble gas isotopes analysis. The objective of this research program over the next five years is to determine the mechanisms of groundwater recharge and quantify circulation through permafrost watersheds, the impacts of climate variability, and how contaminants are transported through components of these flow systems.*** Spectral analysis of discharge data shows strong correlations with climate phenomena observed for the western Canadian Arctic, including the solar cycles and El Nio. This collaborative research will integrate spectral and statistical analysis of historical hydrological and climatological data sets with field investigations and laboratory analysis of stable and radioisotopes and noble gases , to build a comprehensive model of the seasonal timing, mechanisms and climate controls on groundwater circulation. *** Collaboration with northern groups (Yukon College, Gwitch'in Land and Water Board; Yukon Water Survey, Environment Yukon) will continue to provide access, field guides through backcountry terrain, sampling assistance for project HQP and northern knowledge. Sampling to characterize groundwater baseflow during the pre-freshet period and the spring freshet through to freeze-up. Analysis includes isotopes and the carbon system (13C and 14C, DIC, CH4, DOC, acetate and other fractions). This program will contribute new research at contaminated sites to help calculate rates of biodegradation of contaminants in soils. We will measure rates of biodegradation and organic contaminant migration in development-impacted watersheds. *** HQP in this work gain extensive northern research experience and are exposed to the latest analytical methods in our new Advanced Research Complex (ARC) including radiocarbon by AMS and noble gases. This research program is one of very few considering the groundwater component of permafrost hydrology, and the fate of organic contaminants in these systems. This is of particular relevance to a region experiencing accelerated development at a time of shifting climate regimes.