Geomorphology

Geomorphic research at Cape Bounty is focused into two key areas:  fluvial processes and permafrost landforms and disturbance.

Fluvial research investigates the climatic, hydrologic and geomorphic controls over sediment transport in High Arctic streams and rivers.  Using a paired watershed approach (two similar watersheds), research is directed at determining the key processes that generate sediment availability in this environment, and the properties of the sediment cascade in the fluvial system.  We have collected systematic hydrological and sediment transport data for the West and East Rivers since 2003, the longest records of their kind in the High Arctic.  This data set includes many novel elements, including sediment budgets in select years, and detailed records of sediment particle size and hysteresis.  This observational data set includes the warmest decade on record, as well as an episode of permafrost disturbance.  A series of subcatchments have been monitored in the West River since 2007 and provide finer scale process studies and include varying amounts of slope disturbance from active layer detachments.