Project title: Permafrost dynamics in response to climate change on Victoria Island, Nunavut.Project description:Permafrost (frozen ground) is very vulnerable to rapid changes in climate. As the climate warms, the ice in the permafrost melts and the ground becomes unstable as the soil collapse, causing landslides and coastal erosion. The rapid thawing of previously frozen ground can also disturb plant and animal habitats and impact water quality and the ecology of lakes. Decades of work led by various Canadian organizations provided insight into the changing state of permafrost landscapes. However, very little information exists on the permafrost conditions in the Central Canadian Arctic.It is in this context that Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) aims to start a research project to study the response of Victoria Island permafrost ecosystems to climate change and their environmental implications. This project will be anchored at the campus of the Canadian High Arctic Station (CHARS) located in Cambridge Bay. It will help collect baseline knowledge of permafrost and landscape changes in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Our field studies cover the southern part of Victoria Island, with a special focus on Cambridge Bay and its surrounding area.This research program has four specific objectives:(1)Characterize the permafrost conditions(2)Monitor changes in the landscape due to thawing permafrost(3)Assess the impacts of permafrost disturbances on the water quality of lakes and streams.The field methodology involves the following steps: 1-Monitor spatial changes in the landscape using a high-precision GPS and satellite images;2-Collect permafrost samples using a portable earth drill; 3-Characterize soil and permafrost using an electronic tool to image the subsurface;4-Measure and monitor the ground temperature using a series of sensors connected to a data logger;5-Characterize and sample sediments found at the land surface;6-Gather local knowledge on the changes that are happening across the Arctic landscape.The field team will use ATVs to access study sites located close to Cambridge Bay. The use of aircraft will allow the team to access remote locations. The project will primarily result in the publication of scientific papers, student theses and government reports, which will be available to the public. We will create a poster and a booklet to present and explain some of the changes happening to the environment in permafrost areas and how they affect people and wildlife, with the general goal of making permafrost science more accessible to the general public. On the long-term, this project aims to develop a monitoring program to measure various variables such as the ground temperature. These data will be useful for future community planning and to adapt to the thawing of permafrost.