MAGS Contribution to Hydrologic and Surface Process Research

The Mackenzie GEWEX Study (MAGS) research contributed to advancement in our knowledge on hydrologic and surface processes common to all cold regions. These include the accumulation, sublimation and ablation aspects of the snow in boreal forest and tundra areas; infiltration into and thawing of frozen soil; breakup of river ice and the associated floods. Additionally, there are several land surface features distinctive to the Mackenzie River Basin, including lakes and wetlands, mountainous topography, Precambrian Shield and organic terrain. Hydrologic knowledge on these landscapes was gained through field research, conceptualization and modeling effort. Most of these studies were carried out at a local scale that allows understanding of the physical processes through intense field and modeling investigations.