Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #82:Riverine Nutrient Fluxes Through the Mackenzie Delta and Effects on River Fluxes to the Beaufort Sea  (SCARF - Study of Canadian Arctic River-delta Fluxes)

Outline
The Arctic Ocean receives much higher river inflows than other ocean basins. These inflows have major implications for sea-ice formation, for nutrient supply to the base of aquatic marine foodwebs, and for optical properties of ice-free areas and ice-pack margins via fluxes of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and riverine particles. The PARTNERS study was initiated to assess the Russian database on circumpolar river discharges and nutrient fluxes, and to improve flux estimates to the Arctic Ocean. CASES was initiated to improve capabilities to model the response of foodwebs and carbon balances in coastal shelf areas of the Beaufort Sea to climatic warming and recessions in extent of sea-ice. The Beaufort Shelf is strongly influenced by Mackenzie River outflows of water, nutrients, and DOM. However, riverine fluxes for the Mackenzie have been derived from gauging stations upstream of its delta, as has been the case for the circumpolar Russian rivers, and do not account for the effects that deltas exert on river-borne nutrients. In the Mackenzie River, 30% of the water volume at peak flows may go into storage in delta lakes (circumpolar deltas are very lake-rich) where nutrients are taken up, DOM photo-bleaches, and particles sediment out. Our capability to model the effect of arctic deltas on riverine fluxes will be developed via submission of an NSERC Strategic Grant proposal, building on results from MAGS (Mackenzie GEWEX study to model the response of the Mackenzie River to climatic warming), with major client groups for this work consisting of scientists from CASES and PARTNERS. Specific goals will include: (1) developing a hydraulic model of river-flow and water levels through the Mackenzie Delta that can appropriately account for (a) ice-jam driven flooding through the period of spring breakup, plus (b) the effect of Beaufort Sea storm surges in the open water period, and (c) longer-term changes in river flows and sea -level; (2) developing a biogeochemical model that uses hydraulically derived water levels and river flows to (a) quantify nutrient fluxes into delta during the period of river breakup when flow cannot be directly measured, (b) appropriately quantify the seasonal dynamics of nutrient fluxes through the delta to the Beaufort Sea, and (c) assess longer-term changes in nutrient fluxes to the Beaufort with expected changes in river flows and sea level. Our proposed study will require about 5 years of field work in the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Coast, and substantial post-fieldwork analysis.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will make significant advances in our understanding of the current state of the influx of water and nutrients to the Beaufort Sea (Theme 1). The goals of this study also include substantial model development that will permit assessing how river fluxes will respond to expected changes in climate and sea-level (Theme 2). Because river deltas are affected by processes occurring throughout their river basins, the modeling component of this study will improve out understanding of how changes in the southern (temperate) latitudes of the Mackenzie Basin may lead to changes in river fluxes to the arctic (Theme 3).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Will seek to collaborate with scientists from the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES - project involves numerous US collaborators), plus scientists from the Pan Arctic River Transport of Nutrients, Organic Matter, and Suspended Sediments Study (PARTNERS - US based, Ecosystem Center, Woods Hole).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
This study will focus on the Mackenzie River Delta, and the flux of water and nutrients to the Beaufort Sea.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/07 – 04/09            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Will build onto logistical support from the Aurora Research Institute and Polar Continental Shelf Project that has supported our work in this system (Inuvik-based) for past 15 years. Additional support will be required from operational hydrometric agencies within Canada to carry out the necessary discharge measurements within the Mackenzie Delta.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
New monitoring sites in the Mackenzie Delta will be established for the Water Survey Canada network, plus some lab facilities will be developed for the Aurora Research Institute based in Inuvik.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

This project will require a mixture of support from Canadian polar support groups (including Polar Continental Shelf Project and Aurora Research Institute), as well as commercial aircraft operations.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Freshwater Flux in the Canadian Terrestrial and Oceanic Polar Regions

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
yes
This project builds from over 15 years of research conducted in the Mackenzie River Delta system. However, this is an entirely new research activity.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project is in the early stages of planning. However, it is expected to be an autonomous activity that will be managed by the project scientist.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
This project will utilize the Aurora Research Institute in Inuvik to help with the involvement of local educational groups (the Aurora College in Inuvik for example), and with communication through their seminar series and “plan language” reports. This approach has been successfully used during the last number of years.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
The project will ensure that strict data management policies are adhered to. Much of the discharge data developed through this project will be available through Water Survey of Canada, and therefore the Global Runoff Data Centre.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Project unfunded at present and in early stages of planning. Total cost, including in-kind contributions, on order of $500k per year. Will approach NSERC for direct support, plus Environment Canada, NRCan, Fisheries and Oceans, Canadian Coast Guard, and Canadian IPY for a combination of in-kind and direct support.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr  Lance Lesack
Simon Fraser University
Department of Geography, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC
V5A 1S6
Canada

Tel: 604-291-3326
Mobile:
Fax: 604-291-5841
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information