Andrew Hicks, Hydrogeochemist with the Environmental & Waste Technologies Branch pulls gear across the remote tundra near Inuvik, Northwest Territories.
Under the Arctic sky, researchers touched down on the expansive and remote tundra near Inuvik, Northwest Territories. In front of them, the landscape stretched for what seems like forever, broken up only by pingos – ice-cored hills formed by frozen groundwater – and a network of lakes that eventually spill into the Arctic Ocean. For two weeks, from August 17th to the 31st, the Environment & Waste Technologies Branch (EWTB) from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) camped among these windy hills, drilling into frozen ground and collecting samples of permafrost and surface water to capture a snapshot of a rapidly changing environment.
Their mission: to establish baseline concentrations of radionuclides in the Arctic, essential data for understanding how a warming climate is influencing the movement of radionuclides through soil, water, and ecosystems. As permafrost thaws, radionuclides frozen in place since the era of nuclear weapons testing can be released, revealing clues about both our planet’s past and future.
This field campaign, part of the Federal Nuclear Science and Technology (FNST) Work Plan, represents more than climate research. It acts as a model for collaboration — between scientists, Indigenous partners, and northern communities — working together to better understand and protect Canada’s Arctic environment.
To capture a clear picture of radionuclide movement, the EWTB collected surface water samples and drilled permafrost cores at two key sites along the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway and at the remote Trail Valley Creek Research Station. Despite often unpredictable conditions, each sample collected offered a rare opportunity to measure how thawing ground and shifting hydrology are reshaping the chemistry of Canada’s North.
Local Inuvialuit expertise was essential to the success of the field campaign. Before setting foot on the tundra, the project underwent a thorough community review through local hunters and trappers’ committees, and regional councils in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Once in the field, an Inuvialuit wildlife monitor – Dawson Elias, joined the research team, providing safety oversight and local knowledge of the land, wildlife, and seasonal conditions. Elias’ guidance helped the researchers navigate remote sampling sites, understand ecological patterns, and work respectfully within the environment. By measuring baseline concentrations of radionuclides, such as tritium and cesium-137 (Cs-137), researchers can distinguish between naturally occurring radiation and residual fallout from past decades of human activity.
“Working alongside our Inuvialuit wildlife monitor, Dawson, was one of the most rewarding parts of the trip,” shared Andrew Hicks, a Hydrogeochemist with the Environmental & Waste Technologies Branch. “He brought a deep understanding of the land — from the lakes and caribou migration routes to the local names for the birds and fish we encountered — that shaped how we approached our work each day. Out in the field, we were shoulder to shoulder, swatting blackflies and talking about everything from climate change to energy infrastructure in the North. That kind of exchange builds trust and helps ensure our research supports both science and the people who live here. It’s a relationship I’m incredibly fortunate to have gained.”
The second phase of the campaign took the team to the Trail Valley Creek Research Station, a long-standing Arctic climate research site operated by Wilfrid Laurier University. Accessible only by helicopter or by foot in the summer months, the station provided a base for collecting permafrost cores and water samples in one of Canada’s most pristine tundra ecosystems. Through this collaboration, CNL joined a broader network of scientists studying northern climate processes — integrating radionuclide research with ongoing hydrology and permafrost monitoring. The partnership not only expands CNL’s Arctic research footprint but also lays the groundwork for continued collaboration in northern environmental science.
“This project really shows that CNL can be part of high-quality environmental science in some of the most remote parts of Canada — and do it collaboratively, said Elizabeth Priebe, a Hydrogeochemist with the EWTB. “We learned a lot about the logistics, partnerships, and careful communication it takes to make Arctic research successful. That experience will carry forward as we build a longer-term presence in the North.”
By examining radionuclide concentrations in Arctic permafrost and surface water, this research offers a snapshot of how climate change is reshaping northern environments today. Comparing current data
The data gathered through this study will play an important role in how Canada monitors and manages its northern environments in the decades ahead. By defining baseline levels of naturally occurring and legacy radionuclides, researchers can distinguish between background radiation and potential new sources — a foundation for environmental monitoring and public safety programs in Arctic communities.
As the team packed up their camp for their return to Chalk River Laboratories, Hicks reflected on what stayed with him most — not just the science, but the people.
“Being up there, you really feel the respect that people have for the land,” he said. “Everyone we met treated us with such generosity — sharing stories, sharing food, even inviting us back to go goose hunting. That kind of hospitality leaves an impression. It reminds you that the work we’re doing isn’t just about data or samples. It’s about understanding a place and the people who call it home.”
That sense of connection continues to guide the team as they plan future field seasons in the North. Their research — measuring how climate change is reshaping frozen ground and releasing what’s been locked away for decades — is part of a much larger story about stewardship, resilience, and respect. Now, as they wait for their samples to be shipped back to CNL, the team is preparing to dive deeper into the data that will shape the next phase of their work. Each trip, each collaboration, brings CNL a little closer to understanding not only the Arctic environment, but also the relationships that sustain it.
This research is funded by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) Federal Nuclear Science & Technology (FNST) Work Plan, which connects federal organizations, departments, and agencies to the nuclear science expertise and facilities we have at Chalk River Laboratories.
Under the FNST Work Plan, researchers at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) carry out projects to support the Canadian government’s core responsibilities and priorities across the areas of health, safety and security, energy, and the environment.
