The McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS), Expedition Fjord, Axel

Heiberg Island:

Scientific and Logistical Overview

McGill Arctic Research Station - MARS

(79o25’N; 89o35’W )

McGill CARN Site (79o24’N; 89o36’W )

McGill Arctic Research Station

Established in 1960 and operated continuously with support from PCSP, the McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS) represents one of the most scientific sites in the high Arctic.

Axel Heiberg Island

Location 79º 22.94’N; 91º 16.32’W on east Axel Heiberg Island

- Polar Desert < 100 mm ppn - Mean air temp –17.4º - Extreme min -58ºC - Extreme max +21º - 60% of Axel is polar desert and localized tundra - 40% of the Island in ice cap or glacier ice - Permafrost 400-600 m deep Eastern Sverdrup Basin Sedimentary geology - 50+ diapir structures

MARS – McGill Arctic Research Station

McGill Arctic Research Station•Est. 1959 – Glaciology, Geology and Climatology

•30+ graduate thesis,

2 rigid structures, 3 weatherhavens and various temporary shelters

         To promote and physically support northern research.

         To provide opportunities for graduate student training and research in the North.

         To provide affordable room and board for students actively involved in arctic science.

         To stimulate student interest in the north and train (through undergraduate courses and undergraduate and graduate research) scientifically skilled individuals who will become the next generation of northern scientists.

         To advise McGill and non-McGill northern scientists and students on northern research questions.

         To facilitate partnerships and collaborations between McGill researchers with other northern researchers and northern communities.

         To stimulate collaborative integrated research which addresses questions of cold environment science, global change, astrobiology and planetary analogue studies.

         To act as a focus for long-term environmental observation,

         To seek new and innovative sources of funding, to establish solid financial basis for continued operation through grants applications and private funding.

McGill Arctic Research Station: Mission statement

McGill/CSA CARN FacilityRougly 8 km from existing camp, capacity 10-12 persons

Currently 2 structures

New Operations Centre (April 2007)

• Physical (geomorphology-geochemical), biological

(microbiological), and technological (tools to study physical and biological environments)

• Most heavily-studied aspect of MARS are the perennial springs (spans all themes) – but not the only theme

• Physical – geology, ground ice, polygonal terrain, hydrology, hydrochemistry, limnology, etc..

• Biological – identification of bacterial communities and productivity within permafrost + springs

• Technological - geophysics (GPR + CCR), in situ microscopy and chemical analyses, drilling,

Analogue Studies at MARS

Initially this research program was concerned with the biophysical significance of perennial springs in high arctic polar deserts.

Colour Peak – carbonate trough structures and travertines

Biomineralization in High Arctic perennial

Springs and the search for life

Permafrost Drilling Projects

Pollard & Whyte – CARN

Briggs et al. - ASTID