Permafrost investigations on Truelove Lowland

• Main Author: Brown, R. J. E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of Alberta Press Publ. 1977
• Subjects: permafrost; pergélisol; soils; sol (terre); cold regions; zone froide; Devon Island; Northwest Territories; Canada; Arctic; Arctic Archipelago; Canadian Arctic Archipelago; Cornwallis Island; Queen Elizabeth Islands; Tundra
• Online Access: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/ft/?id=783b7681-a3b6-4740-b7b8-b8869c9fe8fc; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=783b7681-a3b6-4740-b7b8-b8869c9fe8fc; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=783b7681-a3b6-4740-b7b8-b8869c9fe8fc

Permafrost, or perennially frozen ground, occurs everywhere beneath the land surface of Truelove Lowland, which is situated in the northern part of the continous zone. The presence of thick continuous permafrost throughout the Canadian Arctic Archipelago has been known for a long time, but until recently investigations have been limited to a few scattered locations. During the past few years, observations have increased considerably, especially in the Queen Elizabeth Islands, with the onset of petroleum explorations. The Canadian Tundra Biome Study of the I.B.P. provided an opportunity to obtain information on permafrost conditions in the major terrain types at Truelove Lowland. No permafrost investigations had been carried out previously on Devon Island. A preliminary indication of permafrost conditions was available from observations at Resolute, N.W. T., 320 km to the southwest on adjacent Cornwallis Island. At this location permafrost was found to be about 400 m thick with a temperature of -12.5 degrees C at the depth of zero annual amplitude. Le pergélisol, ou gélisol pérenne, se trouve partout sous la surface du sol de Truelove Lowland, situé dans la partie nord de la zone de pergélisol continue. La présence d'une forte épaisseur de pergélisol continu dans l'Archipèle canadienne de l'Arctique est connue depuis longtemps, mais jusqu'a récemment les relevés se limitèrent à quelques endroits épars. Pendant ces dernières années, les observations augmentèrent considérablement, tout particuliè rement dans les Queen Elizabeth Islands, grâce aux recherches pétrolifères entreprises. Le Canadian Tundra Biome Study de l'I.B.P. donna l'occasion de recueillir l'information sur les conditions du pergélisol dans les principaux types de terrains de Truelove Lowland. Aucune mesure du pergélisol n'avait été effectuée sur Devon Island auparavant. Une indication préliminaire des conditions du pergélisol a été obtenue à partir des observations faites à Resolute T.N.-O., à 320 km au sud-ouest sur Cornwallis Island, l'île ...