Special Permafrost Session
For the next 6 days (August 16 to August 21), the Aurora Research Institute (ARI) in Inuvik is our base camp. From here, we will drive to sites along the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway. The ARI supports and coordinates research activities in the North Western Territories. For us, this means invaluable logistical support – accommodation, storage space, lab space.
Our first item on our agenda is checking our instruments. About four weeks earlier, we shipped most of our instruments and equipment directly to Inuvik. The freight is waiting for us in the ARI loading area – altogether 1.1 tons and 5.7 cubic meters! Some of the instruments – that we still had to test at home – we did bring along with us on our journey here. Did they survive the bumpy ride over the Dempster highway?
We unpack, assemble and start everything to see if it is functioning all right. Alas, everything is in order – no instrument or bottle was hurt. Some of us go to the local hardware shop to get some missing screws or loading devices. The chemists among us prepare solutions, which are need for our water chemistry analyses and fill them into the different vials and bottles.
Special Permafrost Session
The ARI promotes communication between researchers and the public to raise awareness of the importance of science. As part of the ARI’s Summer Speaker Series we give a public talk for the people from Inuvik – locals, tourists and guest scientists.
The talk is a big success, the room is packed, and more chairs have to be organized. Some people even have to sit on the floor or stand. First, our Canadian partners, Steve Kokelj from the NWT Geological Survey and Nicole Couture from the Geological Survey Canada/NRCAN, give an introduction into terrestrial and coastal permafrost research. Then Julia and I present the MOSES project and methane research.
During Julia’s talk, the presentation system is not working properly. Annika from ARI, who organized the event, very professionally takes over during the technical break and organizes raffle, where people could win little presents.
After the talk, we have a show and tell with some mobile MOSES sensors that we brought into the lecture hall and gain a lot of interest! ARI is a great place to meet people and learn from their long-term experience working in this area.
Edited by: Sina Muster
