Using δ18O-H2O to Trace Freshwater from Rivers and Sea Ice Melt in the Kitikmeot Sea

Authors

• Collette Leclerc
• Dr. Kristina Brown
• Dr. Jens Ehn

  Abstract

  Bathurst Inlet, located in the Kitikmeot Sea of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is influenced by significant freshwater input from river discharge and local sea ice melt, which affects water column stratification and nutrient cycling. The southern end of Bathurst Inlet, shaped by the Burnside and Western rivers, experiences lower salinity due to freshwater inflows, while the northern end has higher salinity from marine water. The use of isotope oxygen-18 helps trace the origin and movement of freshwater, providing critical insights into its impact on stratification, nutrient cycling, and biological community distribution in the region.

  Poster

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