Philip Marsh


Canada Research Chair in Cold Regions Water Science

Tier 1 - 2013-07-01
Renewed: 2020-08-01
Wilfrid Laurier University
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

519-884-0710, ext./poste 2856
pmarsh@wlu.ca

Research involves


Conducting research to understand and predict the interactions between climate, vegetation, permafrost, and lakes and streams in the boreal forest and tundra of Canada’s Arctic.

Research relevance


This research will lead to improved estimates of river flows and lake levels in Canada’s Arctic as a result of climate change, resulting in improved water supply and flood prediction. It will also lead to understanding the impacts climate change has on northern ecosystems.

Research summary


The Arctic climate is warming rapidly, and precipitation is changing, with concurrent changes to shrubs, permafrost and water. However, numerous changes in the water cycle are unexpected and unexplained by current models. The goal of Dr. Philip Marsh’s research project is to make significant advances in both the understanding of, and ability to predict, Arctic water resources at the local scale of interest to northerners. Marsh’s project will use a combination of novel field observations and experiments, remote sensing, and multiscale modeling, to provide robust scenarios of future changes. The scenarios are urgently needed to consider, and plan for, future changes in climate.