| Title | Mapping thaw sensitive terrain and permafrost dynamics, Dempster and Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway corridor region |
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| Author | Morse, P D ;
Kokelj, S V; Sladen, W E; Parker, R; Kokoszka, J; van der
Sluijs, J; Rudy, A C A; Jardine, S; Branson, A |
| Source | November 20-22, 2018; Yellowknife, NT; 46th Annual Yellowknife Geoscience Forum; by Irwin, D; Gervais, S D; Terlaky, V; Northwest Territories Geological Survey, Yellowknife Geoscience Forum Abstract and
Summary Volume 2018, 2018 p. 113  Open Access |
| Links | Online - En ligne (complete volume - volume complet, pdf, 2.19
MB)
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| Image |  |
| Year | 2018 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20180398 |
| Publisher | Northwest Territories Geological Survey (Yellowknife, Canada) |
| Meeting | 46th Annual Yellowknife Geoscience Forum; Yellowknife, NT; CA; November 20-22, 2018 |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf (Adobe® Reader®) |
| Province | Northwest Territories; Yukon |
| NTS | 106E; 106F; 106K; 106L; 106M; 106N; 107B; 107C |
| Area | Dempster Highway; Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway; Arctic Ocean |
| Lat/Long WENS | -135.0000 -133.0000 69.5000 65.7500 |
| Subjects | environmental geology; surficial geology/geomorphology; Transport; geophysics; hydrogeology; permafrost; ground ice; climate; mapping techniques; landslides; mass wasting; periglacial features;
thermokarst; remote sensing; satellite imagery; radar methods; hydrologic environment; modelling; deformation; Infrastructures; Road networks; Climate change; permafrost thaw; Methodology; environmental baseline studies; Risk assessment; elevations;
Quality control; Protocol |
| Program | Climate Change
Geoscience Permafrost |
| Released | 2018 11 01 |
| Abstract | Knowledge of ground ice conditions and landscape thaw susceptibility provide the foundation to support resilient infrastructure in the north. Ground ice distribution, combined with terrain and climate
factors, dictates landscape sensitivity of permafrost regions. Terrain, ground ice, and climate conditions across the 875 km Dempster and Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway corridor vary to produce a natural laboratory where the factors that influence thaw
sensitivity can be assessed. The Geological Surveys of Canada and the Northwest Territories are working together to develop robust methodology to identify, classify, and map permafrost, mass-wasting, and thermokarst features to provide baseline
spatial information to support terrain studies and risk assessment along the corridor. Using a 3-D mapping approach that combines high-resolution satellite imagery and elevation data, geomorphological features related to periglacial, hydrological,
and mass movement processes are identified and mapped within a 10 km-swath centred along the highway corridor. To ensure reproducibility and reliability of the results among mappers, the methods are tested by a number of technicians and include
quality control/quality assurance measures. In addition to generating critical geoscience data for this region, the methods have been transferred to a stand-alone protocol, which can be applied in other fine-scale permafrost terrain or hazard mapping
projects. Our overarching goal is to use the map data in conjunction with available geoscience data to develop better landscape system models. However, the maps also support other research projects such as the interpretation of local surface
deformation patterns using satellite radar methods (DInSAR), provision of fine-scale data used to upscale terrain mapping efforts, and risk assessment along northern highways. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
Knowledge of permafrost ice conditions and thaw susceptibility provides the foundation to support resilient infrastructure in the north. Permafrost ice
distribution combines with terrain and climate factors to dictate landscape sensitivity of permafrost regions. We developed 3-D approach to map permafrost, mass-wasting, and permafrost-thaw features to provide baseline spatial information to support
terrain studies and risk assessment along the 875 km Dempster and Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highways corridor. In addition to generating critical geoscience data for this region, the methods have been transferred to a stand-alone protocol that can be
applied in other fine-scale permafrost terrain or hazard mapping projects. Our goal is to use the map data in conjunction with available geoscience data to develop better landscape system models. However, the maps and protocol will also support other
research projects at local and site-specific scales, and risk assessment along northern highways. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 313626 |
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