Climate & Hydrology Data
The physical, chemical, and biological components of aquatic ecosystems are all linked to the hydrology—the pattern of water movement—of that ecosystem. Patterns of water flows and water levels are affected by characteristics of the surrounding landscape as well as climatic factors such as precipitation and temperature. The RAMP Climate and Hydrology component collects data to better understand the human and natural factors that affect the hydrology of aquatic environments in the Athabasca oil sands region.
Climate
The climate in the region is monitored by RAMP to better understand the influence of precipitation and air temperature to the hydrology of aquatic systems in the Athabasca oil sands region. Because climate patterns vary across the region, precipitation and temperature are monitored at several stations within the region to look at localized effects within each watershed.
Hydrology
Hydrology is monitored by RAMP to better understand the human and natural factors that affect water levels, quantity of water and rates of water movement in aquatic systems in the Athabasca oil sands region and to identify any potential changes in the hydrology of the rivers and lakes that may result from development.
Snowcourse Surveys
Snow course surveys provide an indication of the variation in snow accumulation on various types of terrain in the region. This information is used to estimate the total snow water available for melt in a watershed, to provide an indication of the magnitude of spring runoff, and for use in hydrological modeling.