Volunteers Monitor Climate Change in February in Churchill, Manitoba

Newswise — At the edge of the Arctic, citizen scientists spend February vacation time helping University of Alberta researchers monitor the degradation of permafrost and its impact on the atmosphere.

Dramatic evidence of climate change ranges from the shrinking polar icecaps to the timing of bird migrations. But perhaps the most dramatic impact will be felt in the Arctic, where melting permafrost stands to release tons of carbon dioxide and methane, a veritable time bomb of greenhouse gases. Earthwatch teams are helping Dr. Peter Kershaw conduct research in the remote town of Churchill, Manitoba—at the very edge of the Arctic—to monitor the extent of that impact.

Churchill is sitting atop one of the largest accumulations of carbon on the planet. These vast stores of carbon have been safely locked into the peat for millions of years, frozen a meter (about three feet) below the surface. The concern is that now as the earth warms, the permafrost may not be so permanent and the peat may release its abundant carbon. The release could be both in the form of carbon dioxide and methane, a far more potent greenhouse gas that could amplify the warming effect. Just how serious is the current situation? Dr. Peter Kershaw of the University of Alberta is one of the foremost experts studying this terrain and reports the permafrost degrading at about one percent per year. It is a number that does not sound extraordinary until one realizes that almost one quarter of the Earth's landmass is affected by this permafrost.

To systematically monitor the changes to the ecosystems, Dr. Kershaw yearly is joined by multiple teams of Earthwatch volunteers who work in the summer, the fall and the winter in Churchill collecting plant samples and peat samples to quantify how the tundra is responding to global warming. Their goal is to measure the amount of carbon currently being stored and released both above the ground and in the peat. They are developing a baseline against which future changes can be compared. The information is gathered, sorted and studied at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, a research station just outside of Churchill.

During the winter, Churchill is not a hospitable place for visitors. The cold is brutal, down to -50 degrees C, and ultraviolet light destroys household items such as rubber and plastic in months. Yet, Kershaw and his team of volunteer scientists conduct their work, traveling around by kamatiq (a traditional wooden Inuit conveyance) towed by snowmobiles. In February, the teams measure snowpack thickness and collect winter-active insects four hours a day.

The work may be exhausting but gratifying and the reward for the February teams comes in the evening with dazzling displays of the northern lights-- those shimmering curtains of light. Earthwatch team members even learn how to build an igloo while in Churchill and have an opportunity to sleep in it for one night.

Dr. Peter Kershaw will speak on "Chilling Concerns over Global Warming, Permafrost and Climate Change" at the Earthwatch Annual Conference on Saturday, November 5th in Cambridge, MA. More information at http://www.earthwatch.org/conference.

Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization that supports scientific field research by offering members of the public opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. Earthwatch's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education and promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

135 Earthwatch volunteers have worked with Dr. Kershaw over the last 3 years, so editors who might wish to interview a local return volunteer from their readership area should inquire. Additional photos are available. For more information on the research, see http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/kershaw.html