I received my PhD from McMaster University in 1983 and was a Research Scientist at the ECCC National Hydrology Research Centre in Saskatoon from 1984 until 2013. During this time, my research focused on the hydrology of the Canadian High Arctic and the Mackenzie River Basin, with much of my research over this period of time carried out in the Mackenzie Delta region of the NWT, with hydrologic studies of the Mackenzie Delta and the uplands to the east of the Delta. Since joining Laurier as a Canada Research Chair, my research has continued to focus on climate change issues in the NWT, and specifically at two long term research watersheds near Inuvik, NWT. These include Havikpak Creek and Trail Valley Creek.

My research is aimed at understanding how Arctic hydrological systems are
responding to a rapidly warming climate. As a previous master’s student, my
research applied novel techniques such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to
map snowpack conditions across shrub-tundra headwater catchments. This
research addresses uncertainties relating to future changes in snow distribution
with increasing shrub expansion into tundra regions and changing precipitation
regimes. My work also aims to increase our knowledge of the complex and
rapid changes to basin snow cover conditions over the spring melt to improve
our understanding of the spring freshet response which is integral to improving
our ability to forecast these systems under further climate warming scenarios.
Alongside my ongoing research interests, I am also responsible for the
management and operations of the Trail Valley Creek Research Station.

Update to come

The primary focus of my work is to design, install and maintain eddy covariance and micrometeorological instrumentation, as well as to support other CANet activities at six sites on a latitudinal gradient across the NWT and northern BC. I specialize in establishing water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane fluxes at a landscape scale using the eddy covariance technique. These datasets are imperative to provide better process-based understanding of how boreal forest, peatland and tundra ecosystems under the influence of rapidly changing permafrost conditions function as an integral part of the climate system.

The natural thermal and winter flow regimes of small streams in the continuous permafrost of the western Canadian Arctic are not well understood. These systems are likely responding to climate change in ways that could affect aquatic habitat, land use, and infrastructure. This collaborative project is investigating permafrost configuration, ground and water temperature, and winter runoff at a series of small streams between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk to describe their current hydrothermal regime and inform projections of future conditions.

I recently finished a bachelor's degree in geography. The focus of my research was understanding the impact of beaver activity on lake water storage. I'm now working as an RA for Phil Marsh.

A master's student with the group looking at permafrost and active layer thaw in small Arctic catchments and how groundwater movement is changing with this thaw and the various elements that can affect this. This is then inputted into numerical models like GEOtop to try and predict future change

I'm a mathematical physics BSc now working on a master's in geography.  My work focuses on improving physics-based modelling (GEOtop, CRHM, CSLM)  of thermokarst lakes and lake dominated watersheds in the Canadian Arctic. Specifically, my goal is to shine light on how they will change with a warming climate, as well as to help validate novel satellite data from CSA's upcoming SWOT mission.

My research focuses on the analysis of streamflow for Trail Valley Creek (TVC ) and Hans Creek (HC) in the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk region. And study changes in water balance components for both watersheds. This research insight increases our understanding of wildfires in such regions.

I'm a master of geography student currently working on the Beaver in Socio-Ecological Resilience in Inuit Nunungat (Barin) project. My focus is specifically on the impacts of beavers on hydrology or arctic watersheds. As beaver continue to expand throughout the western Canadian Arctic this research will prove valuable for understanding on how beavers could influences lakes and streams in the region.

The thermokarst lakes between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk are vulnerable to changing water levels as the climate warms. I am looking at the lake and landscape properties that control changes in lake water levels to determine the relative importance of snowmelt and rainfall for recharging lakes near the Trail Valley Creek Research Station. I have collected water samples from more than 120 lakes across a 2,000 km2 area, which will be analyzed for multiple hydrological indicators, including snowmelt and rainfall recharge. These indicators will then be compared to multiple lake and catchment characteristics, such as the lake area-catchment area ratio, to determine the influence of such landscape elements on lake water levels. From this work, the general hydrological behaviour of lakes will be more easily estimated based on easily quantifiable lake and catchment characteristics. This is relevant for future industrial development in the area and for predicting future changes to lake water levels as the climate warms.

I’m a Master’s student from Wilfrid Laurier University continuing my undergraduate work under Dr. Philip Marsh. My research is focused on assessing any physical changes to lakes in a 5500 square kilometre area of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk region. The study primarily uses air photos to track changes in lakes from the 1950s until present. This includes determining: whether drained lakes are clustering, if the rate of drainage has changed in recent years, and whether there is an overall change in the area and perimeter of these lakes. This research will provide insight on areas with increased permafrost thaw, alongside maintaining a fine-resolution inventory of lakes within the region

​

Update to come

Update to come

Update to come

Update to come

Update to come

Update to come

Update to come