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D21 10.5885/45327AD-5245D08606AB4F52 Published
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Carbon, nitrogen and water content of the active layer from sites across the Canadian Arctic

Arctic Development and Adaptation to Permafrost in Transition (ADAPT)

Auteurs pour la correspondance / Corresponding authors :
Warwick F. Vincent (warwick.vincent@cen.ulaval.ca)
Mickaël Lemay (mickael.lemay@cen.ulaval.ca)

Abstract

It is presumed that significant quantities of carbon are stored in permafrost soils and that the thawing permafrost could substantially raise atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. ADAPT has developed a standard protocol to coordinate and increase common fieldwork sampling/record efforts in order to help document and precise the assessments of carbon stock in the permafrost and the active layer from sites all across the Canadian Arctic.

According to the active layer sampling standard protocol for C/H/N determination, soil samples for each site are collected in 2 sub-sites, chosen according to significant differences (e.g. soil type, vegetation type/cover, soil moisture, topography, etc.), and at 3 different locations (i.e. 3 replicates/profiles by sub-site). The active layer is sampled using the ADAPT soil sampler which allows for bulk density determination at each depth (surface, -5 cm, -15 cm, -30 cm, -40 cm and at max. depth) starting from top to bottom. The stainless tube is slowly driven into the soil in order to take an undisturbed soil sample. Soil samples are stored in a cooler and in the dark until they are treated in laboratory. All soil samples are analysed at the Radio-carbon laboratory of the CEN, where the total mass content of the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H) are calculated by combustion using a LECO CHN628 Elemental Determinator. Prior to be analysed, samples are 1) weighed (as well as the stainless cylinders) to determined the bulk density of the soil, 2) dried and weighed again to determine the water content, and 3) grinded and mixed using a mortar and pestle. Only a small portion the prepared soil sample is needed for the LECO CHN628 Elemental Determinator.

The carbon, nitrogen and water content data come from 10 different sites: Beaver Creek, Daring Lake, Illisarvik (Mackenzie Delta), Cape Bounty, Vallée des Trois (VDT- Umiujaq), BGR (Umiujaq), SAS (Kuujjuarapik), Ward Hunt Island, Bylot Island and Churchill. For more details on ADAPT Standard Protocols, please visit the ADAPT ADAPT website

Data citation

ADAPT 2014. Carbon, nitrogen and water content of the active layer from sites across the Canadian Arctic, v. 1.0. Nordicana D21, doi: 10.5885/45327AD-5245D08606AB4F52.

Location map

Contributors

Allard, Michel Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval Pienitz, Reinhard Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval Fortier, Daniel Université de Montréal Wolfe, Brent Wilfrid Laurier University Grogan, Paul Queen's University Lamoureux, Scott Queen's University Burn, Christopher Carleton University Vincent, Warwick Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval Berteaux, Dominique Université du Québec à Rimouski Doré, Guy Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval Gauthier, Gilles Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval Grant, Robert University of Alberta Henry, Greg University of British Colombia Lemay, Mickaël ArcticNet / Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval Lévesque, Esther Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Roulet, Nigel McGill University

Acknowledgements

The ADAPT team would like to thank all the ADAPT graduate students, field and research assistants from the 15 ADAPT laboratories as well as many close collaborators that contributed to the CHN database in applying the standard protocols all across the Canadian Arctic. A special thank to the CEN’s research assistants, Jonathan Roger, Andrée-Sylvie Carbonneau, Denis Sarrazin, Emmanuel L’Hérault, Guillaume Labrecque, Ariane Beauféray-Marais and Luc Cournoyer for their precious help for the sample and data management.

Version history

You can request an older version by contacting nordicana@cen.ulaval.ca

Measurement sites

Site Latitude Longitude Altitude (m)
BGR (BW) 56.61352 -76.21818 More info
Beaver Creek 62.33624 -140.83206 More info
Bylot Island 73.15039 -80.00474 More info
Churchill (Ma) 58.72716 -93.83666 More info
Daring Lake 64.86667 -111.55 More info
SAS 2 55.22615 -77.69585 More info
Umiujaq 56.54778 -76.46194 More info
Ward Hunt Island 83.05381 -74.09365 More info
Cape Bounty 74.9166 -109.5833 More info
Illisarvik 69.47948 -134.58332 More info
BGR (MA) 56.61639 -76.22083 More info

Download

Data available for download are in ZIP format. Please properly cite the data when using it.

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File: d_000012088_base.zip
Sites
Beaver Creek
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 07/2013 – 07/2013
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File: d_000012087_base.zip
Sites
BGR (BW)
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 08/2013 – 08/2013
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File: d_000012097_base.zip
Sites
BGR (MA)
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 08/2013 – 08/2013
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File: d_000012089_base.zip
Sites
Bylot Island
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 07/2013 – 07/2013
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File: d_000012095_base.zip
Sites
Cape Bounty
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 07/2013 – 07/2013
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File: d_000012090_base.zip
Sites
Churchill (Ma)
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 06/2013 – 06/2013
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File: d_000012091_base.zip
Sites
Daring Lake
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 07/2013 – 07/2013
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File: d_000012096_base.zip
Sites
Illisarvik
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 08/2013 – 08/2013
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File: d_000012092_base.zip
Sites
SAS 2
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 08/2013 – 08/2013
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File: d_000012093_base.zip
Sites
Umiujaq
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 08/2013 – 08/2013
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File: d_000012094_base.zip
Sites
Ward Hunt Island
Data
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content 07/2013 – 07/2013