# Presentation: 731687

## The McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS), Expedition Fjord, Axel Heiberg Island: Scientific and Logistical Overview

- The McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS), Expedition Fjord, Axel Heiberg Island: *Scientific and Logistical Overview*

## McGill Arctic Research Station

- McGill Arctic Research Station  -  **MARS** (79o25’N; 89o35’W )

- McGill **CARN **Site (79o24’N; 89o36’W )

**Notes:**
I want to take this opportunity promote the McGill Arctic Research Station on the west side of Axel Heiberg Island. McGill operates 2 northern field stations, the other is in subarctic quebec at schefferville. Both have been in continuous operation for 48 and 53 years respectively, however only the high Arctic station has research supported by pcsp. I took over as the director of both sites in 1992. Over the last decade the subarctic station has struggled however the high arctic station has flourished.

## 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.

**Notes:**
The McGill Station was established in 1960 and was largely the vision of the late Ken Hare and the late George Jacobsen. Initially science activities focussed on glaciology, geology, climatology and hydrology but in recent years the science program has expanded to include microbiology, limnology, permafrost hydrology, astrobiology and Mars analogue studies. Over the past 48 years it has given birth to the careers of many noteable arctic scientists, there have been 50+ graduate and undergraduate theses and >150 scientific papers generated based on research at this site. 

## 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

## McGill Arctic Research Station: Mission statement

-          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/CSA CARN Facility

- Rougly 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