This observatory monitors a network of headwater streams underlain by permafrost. Several included catchments, named by their distance in kilometers from the southern limit of the Dempster Highway (KM44, KM71, KM99, KM175, KM185), overlie pericratonic marine sedimentary rocks (limestone, shale, siltstone, sandstone, conglomerate, slate, and chert) deposited offshore of ancient North America (Laurentia). These geological terranes cover a ~867,000 km2 area forming the Yukon/Mackenzie hydrological divide along the Yukon-10 Northwest Territory border (25). Sulfide-rich black shales capable of producing ARD are present throughout these terranes, and extend towards much of the western North American sub(Arctic) permafrost zone in Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories

Primary Scientific Purpose:

Permafrost Thaw & Hydrological Shifts:
To study how rapid climate warming and thawing permafrost impact northern water cycles, storage, and subsurface-surface water interactions.

Water Quality & Acidification: To monitor shifting water chemistry. Research here has notably tracked how thawing permafrost releases stored minerals, leading to unexpected stream acidification and heavy metal mobilization with major implications for aquatic life and local water security.

Carbon and Biogeochemical Cycling:
To measure fluvial carbon exports and trace gas/carbon balances to understand how changing sub-Arctic landscapes influence global feedback loops.

Regional Water Security & Infrastructure:
Partnering with the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation and territorial governments to provide predictive data for managing backcountry water safety, flooding risks, and northern infrastructure.