1. Canadian Cryosphere Watch
  2. Permafrost
  3. Canadian Permafrost Research

Canadian Permafrost Research

ArcticNet
River bank in the Arctic

In association with ArcticNet, Dr. Michel Allard and Dr. Wayne Pollard lead a comprehensive study of permafrost conditions in Canada, Permafrost and Climate Change in Northern Coastal Canada. The project focuses on mapping permafrost in vulnerable areas and areas associated with future development. The inclusive study, involves almost 100 participants including students, research associates, post-doctoral fellows, principle investigators and technical staff. The goal is to provide valuable information on ecosystem change and development consequences in the melting coastal permafrost by identifying probable hazards, climate alterations and hydrological changes. This information will be used in modeling future projections and recommending adaption approaches (ArcticNet, 2011-2014).


Visit the Project Summary page for more information.

ADAPT
Researchers collecting samples in the Arctic

The ADAPT program (Arctic Development and Adaption to Permafrost in Transition) designated to fund innovative Canadian research in the field of permafrost change. The ADAPT mission is to utilize this research to develop a structure of “Integrated Permafrost System Science” to understand and predict consequences of rapid changes on ecosystems and economics. ADAPT outlines it’s objectives as follows:

  • to examine how changing precipitation and warming temperatures affect permafrost geosystems and ecosystems, specifically by testing hypotheses concerning the influence of the snowpack, the effects of water as a conveyor of heat, sediments, and carbon in warming permafrost terrain and the processes of permafrost decay.
  • to interact directly with Inuit communities, the public sector and the private sector by placing our work in the context of geosystems and ecosystem services, including the improvement of environmental impact assessments for northern development and engineering strategies for development and adaptation.
  • to train the new generation of experts and scientists (HQPs) in this critical domain of research in Canada and to favour the capacity building in northern communities throughout dedicated outreach and research activities.

Visit the ADAPT webpage for more information.

Permafrost Links

Material for this section was provided by Maren Pauly, Department of Geography, University of Waterloo.

Last updated on 06/11/2017