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Water, mud, and bubbles: Impacts of permafrost degradation on greenhouse gas emissions from Arctic ponds and lakes

Carbon cycle dynamics in response to permafrost degradation is a ‘hot topic’ in northern research. We are particularly interested in greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4) emitted from ‘thermokarst’ aquatic ecosystems, i.e. ponds and lakes formed by the thawing of ice-rich permafrost. Such thawing results in the atmospheric release (as CO2 and CH4) of old carbon formerly trapped frozen in the ground.

Assessing Berries to Monitor Ecological Change: a collaboration with Nunavut Arctic College's Environmental Technology Program

Students of ETP have been contributing to a multidisciplinary study looking at vegetation response in a warming Arctic context, with a focus on berry ecology and productivity of 3 favourite species: Blueberry (Kigutangirnaq/Vaccinium uliginosum), Crowberry (Paurngaq/Empetrum nigrum) and Cranberry (Kimminaq/Vaccinium vitis-idaea). From 2009 to 2013 they have been collecting berries following a scientific protocol in a permanent monitoring plot near their fall camp location at Peterhead Inlet, near Iqaluit.

Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change (IHACC)

IHACC is a multi-year, trans-disciplinary, community-based initiative working with remote Indigenous populations in the Peruvian Amazon, Canadian Arctic and Uganda to examine vulnerabilities to the health effects of climate change and develop an evidentiary base for adaption.  In the Arctic, IHACC is working in the communities of Nunavut and Rigolet, Nunatsiavut.  In Iqaluit, the research has largely focused around issues of gastro-intestinal health, water, and food security.  As a whole, this work takes a participator research approach and aims to be engaged at all levels of

Foodborne and Waterborne Disease Mitigation: Community-based Surveillance for Environmental Health

Recent research uncovered the highest rates of self-reported enteric illness (i.e., diarrhea and vomiting) reported in the world to be in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Rigolet, Nunatsiavut. Infectious diarrhea and vomiting can be caused by contaminated drinking water (i.e., waterborne disease), contaminated food (i.e., foodborne disease), or person-to- person contact. To reduce the high rates of diarrhea and vomiting in Northern Canada, we must monitor these pathogens causing illness to understand what pathogens are responsible for illness and how people contract the illness.

Glacier Monitoring and Assessment, Penny Ice Cap, Nunavut

Higher than normal summer temperatures over the past few decades have resulted in increased melt of glaciers and ice caps in the Canadian Arctic, particularly since 2005. In order to better understand past and future changes of glaciers in the southern Canadian Arctic, the Geological Survey of Canada, Parks Canada and University of Ottawa have been studying Penny Ice Cap on southern Baffin Island since 2007. It is the largest ice mass in the southern Canadian Arctic, covering ~6400 km2.

How does climate change and vegetation growth affect snow properties and permafrost temperature?

The properties of snow on the ground change over time and these changes are affected by temperature and wind, i.e. climate. Lemmings live under the snow and need to travel under the snow in search of food in winter. They are therefore sensitive to snow properties and climate change may strongly affect their populations, and of course also the populations of their predators.

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