Summaries

Migratory and breeding ecology of birds facing global environmental change: report of the 2017 and 2018 field seasons

J.-F. Lamarre, A. Pedersen, J. Tiktalek, and E. Sutherland

Lamarre, J.-F., Pedersen, A., Tiktalek, J. and Sutherland, E.L. 2019. Migratory and breeding ecology of birds facing global environmental change: Report of the 2017 and 2018 field seasons. Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 1–7. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.01

Migratory birds are sentinels of global change. Many species are currently suffering global population declines. Climate change can also lead to shifts in the ranges of different species. On the breeding ground, the timing and success of reproduction can be linked to events that happened earlier, thousands of kilometres away, in areas that are heavily impacted by human development. Better knowledge of the space that migratory wildlife uses year-round and variation in species interactions through time and space would help define stresses experienced by species. The objective of this research program is to monitor the reproduction and migration of arctic-nesting migratory birds (predator and prey species) including their nesting habitats, breeding densities, population trends, and migration requirements. The resulting data will be used for wildlife management, monitoring the state of the environment, and species conservation efforts. It will also be made available for education and research for public and scientific use. In 2018, various aspects of migratory bird ecology surrounding Cambridge Bay were monitored, particularly the timing of breeding, density, and success for the snow goose species of shorebirds. Predation pressure was also studied through artificial nest experiments, daily species counts, and notable vagrant species observations. Since geese have an important impact on terrestrial ecosystems through habitat degradation and shared predators, surveys were performed in Anderson Bay and Icebreaker Channel area to map the goose colony perimeter and compare it with previous surveys. This report describes the research activities that were carried out, preliminary results gathered so far, and the potential development of the research program over the next few years.

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The Canadian Arctic-Subarctic Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (CASBEC): Framework, Key Concepts, Mapping and Applications

D.S. McLennan, W.H. MacKenzie, D.V. Meidinger, S. Ponomarenko, J. Wagner, R.J. McKillop, and H.T. Robitaille

McLennan, D.S., MacKenzie, W. H., Meidinger, D., Ponomarenko, S., Wagner, J., McKillop, R.J., and Robitaille, H. T 2019. The Canadian Arctic–Subarctic Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (CASBEC): Framework, Mapping and Applications. Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 8-22. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.02

The Canadian Arctic-Subarctic Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification system (CASBEC) is a proposal for coordinating and standardizing how terrestrial ecological communities across the subarctic and arctic landscapes of northern Canada are classified, interpreted, and mapped. CASBEC is based on strong ecological theory and provides standardized protocols for naming and classifying components of terrestrial ecosystems. It produces a natural, hierarchical classification based on observable ecological components that can be interpreted and applied in different ways. This paper describes the need for such a system and the theory and structure of the classification approach. It also covers CABSEC's overall usefulness for coordinated, pan-northern research, monitoring, wildlife management and conservation, land use planning, assessment, reporting of the potential impacts and mitigation of industrial developments, and climate change modelling. This proposal is put forward to solicit the interest, input, and support of the Canadian community of northern terrestrial ecosystem researchers and consulting practitioners to work together to implement a standardized approach to classifying and naming arctic-subarctic terrestrial ecological communities. Such standardization will significantly improve the coordination, outreach, and impact of northern research, monitoring, and conservation, as well as the many applied uses of the system.

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The Net Ecosystem Exchange at Permafrost in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada

J. Yun, M.J. Kwon, J.Y. Jung, B.Y. Lee, J. Yoo, J. Wagner, and T. Choi

Yun, J., Kwon, M.J., Jung, J.Y., Chae, N., Lee, B.Y., Yoo, J., and Choi, T. 2019: Net Ecosystem Exchange at Permafrost in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 23-31. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.03

Permafrost is a big carbon (C) reservoir. There is growing interest in how carbon exchange fluxes are changing because of arctic warming. Continuously monitoring carbon exchange fluxes requires a good understanding of the carbon budget at various permafrost regions in the Arctic. To monitor carbon and energy exchanges between the atmosphere and the tundra ecosystem, an eddy covariance flux system was set up at a permafrost site in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada, in 2012. The system is able to observe gas fluxes over a long period without disturbing the study site. The site used in this project is dry tundra mainly composed of Carex spp. and Dryas integrifolia. The soil is classified as Orthic Eutric Turbic Cryosol, with the active layer reaching 1.4 metres in mid-August. This report presents the study's preliminary results from 2017. The overall data collection rate was about 44-89%, with most of the gaps occurring during the winter. These results show that the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide turned negative in June; in other words, the site became a source for atmospheric carbon dioxide during that time. The NEE increased to a maximum of -1.7gC/m2/day in July and decreased until September with negative values. The total accumulated NEE for 2017 was -59.61gC/m2. Additional analysis is underway to investigate how accumulated NEE varies from year to year and to compare the study site's characteristics with a different permafrost site.

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Assessing and monitoring permafrost using a community outreach perspective in Kugluk Territorial Park, Nunavut

S. Coulombe, M.-A. Ducharme, M. Allard, L. Papatsie, G. Atatahak, L. Adjun, S. Bilodeau, and S. Page

Coulombe, S., Ducharme, M.-A., Allard, M., Papatsie, L., Atatahak, G., Adjun, L., Bilodeau, S. and Page, S. 2019. Assessing and monitoring permafrost using a community outreach perspective in Kugluk Territorial Park, Nunavut. Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 32–42. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.04

The ATV trail in Kugluk Territorial Park is experiencing significant damage due to permafrost thawing, melting of ice wedges, multiple landslide scarp retreats, and intense gully erosion. Every year, alterations and some rerouting are made to the trail to make it usable, but the Nunavut Parks Division and community leaders would like to see better planning to find a suitable long-term route for the trail. A collaborative project between the Government of Nunavut's Parks Division and Climate Change Secretariat, along with the Centre for Northern Studies and Polar Knowledge Canada, surveys geomorphological processes and changes in permafrost conditions to help fulfill this objective. This community-based research project has two key objectives: 1) to gain new knowledge of permafrost degradation, landslide erosion, and their associated impacts, and 2) to build local capacity, with an emphasis on youth, to monitor changes in local climate and permafrost. In 2017 and 2018, geomorphological changes in the landscape were mapped with time-lapsed high-resolution air photographs and satellite images, drone surveys, and high precision GPS surveying. Permafrost conditions were assessed by collecting permafrost core samples and conducting ground-penetrating radar surveys. Local traditional knowledge and the involvement of multi-generation community members in all phases of the research project provide critical information and insights on the terrain sensitivity and inspiration for solution finding and decision-making. This project places the community in a leadership role when assessing and responding to the environmental changes that are coming with a warming climate and thawing of permafrost.

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Designing a do-it-yourself (DIY) UAV for arctic research purposes and proving its capabilities by retrieving snow depth via structure-from-motion

D. Kramer, J. Meloche, A. Langlois, D. McLennan, C. Gauthier-Barrette, A. Royer, and P. Cliche

Kramer, D., Meloche, J., Langlois, A., McLennan, D., Chapdelaine, B., Gauthier-Barrette, C., Royer, A., Cliche, P. 2019. Designing a Do-It-Yourself Unmanned aerial Vehicle for Arctic research purposes and proving its capabilities by retrieving snow depth via structure-from-motion. Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 43-62. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.05

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are increasingly being used in geoscience studies for mapping or documenting changes in the landscape over time. The Arctic, being known for its harsh climate and tough environmental conditions, adds a special challenge to the use of drones. This usually results in very high price tags for commercially available options. In addition, commercial systems offer little flexibility for using newly developed sensors required by the scientific community. As a result, an initiative was undertaken to develop a UAV fleet that meets scientific requirements while being both cheap and flexible. The first part of the work tested electronic components in a weather chamber, simulating typical conditions in the North. For example, components were rated on a temperature scale down to -50°C. The next steps included building the drone, testing its characteristics, and then using it to collect data. The last step involved proving the capabilities of the drone from a scientific point of view. A technique called structure-from-motion can be used to calculate a detailed 3D-model from 2D-images. The drone was equipped with a camera and it mapped an area near Cambridge Bay, Nunavut once in the winter and once in the summer. From these two flights, one with snow and one without, the snow depth can be calculated over a larger area with great accuracy. Both the drone and its scientific capabilities were successful and will be further developed.

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Enhancing the safety and efficiency of community sea ice use in the Kitikmeot Region through the development and delivery of remote sensing image products

R.K. Scharien, R.A. Segal, C.-L. Tam, and A. Wynden

Scharien, R.K., Segal, R.A., Tam, C.-L., and Wynden, A. 2019. Enhancing the safety and efficiency of community sea ice use in the Kitikmeot Region through the development and delivery of remote sensing images. Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 63–74. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.06

Northern communities are interested in using modern technologies that provide information about weather and sea ice conditions to aid in planning and executing sea ice-based activities. This project engaged partners in Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay over three field seasons (2017–2018) to define the sea ice features that are important to safety and the ability of vehicles to traverse sea ice. Input information from interview responses and guided sea ice-based activities was merged with currently available satellite remote sensing data. Enhanced image products for guiding future community-based sea ice activities were produced and delivered back to the communities. Sea ice roughness emerged as a primary variable of interest to local residents that travel on sea ice primarily by snowmobile. Prototype sea ice roughness maps were developed using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from the Sentinel-1 satellite, and feedback from the community was solicited. Useful roughness maps were either greyscale and continuous or generalized to three colours corresponding to smooth ice/manniqtuk hiku, moderately rough ice/manitutun hiku, and rough ice/manitpiatuk hiku (dialect: Inuinnaqtun). They were delivered in either electronic or hard copy formats. Overall, the image products have had an immediate impact, with residents finding them to be very accurate, useful in saving time and fuel when used for planning, and effective for improving safety. Ongoing work includes roughness validation using airborne data, creation of a format for delivery through web applications, and sharing new products with interested partners.

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Achieving benefits through greywater treatment and re-use in northern buildings and communities

N.A. Poirier, and R. Pristavita

Poirier, N.A. and Pristavita, R. 2019. Greywater treatment and reuse in northern buildings and communities – results from a demonstration project. Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 75–85. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.07

Greywater is wastewater from activities like showering, bathing, or laundry. It is less contaminated than wastewater from toilets, urinals, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers. In many regions of the world where water is not plentiful, people re-use greywater for toilet flushing, irrigation, laundry, and cleaning. The quality of the greywater required for safe use has been established by various organizations. Nunavut does not have a shortage of water, but it is costly. The high cost is related to delivering water by truck to individual homes and businesses and removing sewage from these buildings by truck. As a result, Nunavut uses less water per person than other parts of Canada. Greywater re-use would reduce the amount of wastewater generated and would allow more of the truck-delivered potable water to be reserved for activities that truly require this quality, such as food preparation and bathing. This project studied the potential to treat and re-use greywater in northern communities. A demonstration of a new greywater treatment system designed for the North was made in a triplex residence of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay. The system was able to meet the accepted quality levels for the safe use of greywater and produce this treated water at a reasonable cost. Cambridge Bay residents and business owners were interviewed to obtain their perspectives on greywater treatment and re-use.

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Performance of a dual core energy recovery ventilation system for use in arctic housing

B. Ouazia, G. Gnanamurugan, C. Arsenault, Y. Li, M. Brown, G. Kolsteren, and C. Chisholm

Ouazia, B., Gnanamurugan, G., Arsenault, A., Li, Y., Brown, M., Kolsteren, G., Chisholm, C. 2019. Performance of a dual core energy recovery ventilation system for use in arctic housing. Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 86–95. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.08

The extremes of the arctic climate pose severe challenges to housing heating and ventilation systems. Heat/energy recovery ventilation (HRV/ERV) systems are types of HVAC systems that can provide the required ventilation rate while at the same time, reduce energy consumption. Their performance to date in cold climates has been inadequate due to equipment failures such as freezing of cores. As a result, conventional, single core HRV/ERV units are equipped with frost protection (pre-heating of outdoor air) or defrost strategies (recirculation of stale air). However, these can undermine the required ventilation rate and energy savings. A dual core unit designed with two parallel heat exchangers and a controlled damper could address frost protection by periodically directing warm air through one of the two cores while outside air gains heat from the other. This technical paper presents results on the performance of a dual core system following a rigorous methodology: 1) lab evaluation using climatic chambers to simulate indoor and outdoor conditions identified by certification standard CSA-C439 and those identified in the Arctic, 2) side-by-side testing using twin-houses to compare the whole-building performance of a house equipped with a single core ERV and a house equipped with a dual core energy recovery system, and 3) extended monitoring of the dual core technology in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut for proven long-term performance and resilience. The technology was found to be capable of withstanding temperatures below -30°C without deteriorating its thermal performance (in other words, it was more frost-tolerant) and able to provide continuous delivery of outdoor air to the house.

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STEM outreach for youth and educators in the Beaufort Delta region of the Northwest Territories

A. Trimble, and H. Turko

Trimble, A. and Turko, H. 2019. STEM outreach for youth and educators in the Beaufort Delta region of the Northwest Territories. Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 96–103. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.09

With support from Polar Knowledge Canada, the Aurora Research Institute's Western Arctic Research Centre offers students, teachers, and communities with engaging, interactive STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programming to improve science literacy and build on the relationship between traditional and scientific knowledge. Opportunities for youth to engage in hands-on scientific learning are limited in the NWT and, as a result, interest in STEM subjects and careers is low. ARI delivers hands-on learning experiences for youth, professional development sessions and support for teachers, and community events to foster interest and confidence in the sciences. This outreach programming is dynamic, relevant to northern issues and curricula, and based on the needs of educators and community youth programs. Special care is taken to integrate regional traditional knowledge and languages in this STEM programming, and land-based activities make for the richest learning experiences. Local STEM professionals and visiting researchers are connected with youth and community members, interactive learning experiences, and plain-language research talks. Based in the North, ARI's outreach team has strong relationships with community groups and schools and offers sustained programming – connecting with northern youth and educators many times during the school year. This is critical as capacity is built among northern educators and youth in STEM fields, and demand for the programming is increasing. The outreach program is expanding to include ARI's South Slave Research Centre, where the same community-oriented, responsive model will be used.

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The Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation: Considerations for Canada's role

E. Arsenault, G. Song, and A. Pigford

Arsenault, E., Song, G. and Pigford, A. 2019. The Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation: Considerations for Canada’s role. Polar Knowledge: Aqhaliat 2019, Polar Knowledge Canada, p. 104-108. DOI: 10.35298/pkc.2019.11

This essay discusses key aspects of Canada's role in the Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation, which was signed at the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in May 2017 and came into force in May 2018. The purpose of the Agreement is to enhance cooperation in scientific activities and, in turn, increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the development of scientific knowledge about the Arctic. In particular, it is designed to support international researchers in accessing research areas, infrastructure and facilities, and data and metadata. Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) is responsible for implementing the Agreement for non-marine* research in Canada's North. POLAR will highlight best practices and provide up-to-date tools and resources on northern research in order to foster a respectful research community within Canada among both international and domestic researchers. This includes the recognition of national, territorial/provincial, regional, and local policies and practices for guiding research, as well as community-specific guidelines for collecting and disseminating Indigenous Knowledge. Canada's participation in the Agreement will enhance northern science in Canada by promoting pan-Canadian northern research communication and collaboration, highlighting regional research processes and best-practices, and supporting Canada's northern research community as it continues to grow. In summary, this essay aims to communicate 1) what the Agreement is, 2) key implementation considerations, and 3) what it means for Canada, including the potential benefits associated with Canada's participation in the Agreement.

*Global Affairs Canada is responsible for coordinating and supporting marine research requests from foreign agencies or nationals.

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