Members of our group attended a shortcourse focusing on isotope hydrology and biogeohemistry at Environment Canada’s National Hydrology Research Centre in Saskatoon, SK. The shortcourse was led by Jeff McDonnell and included not only him but also Genevieve Ali, Ali Ameli, Jaivime Evaristo, Carol Kendall, Geoff Koehler, Kim Janzen, Scott Jasechko, Cody Millar, and Tricia Stadnyk as instructors. In only four days of lectures and labs, the course reviewed key ways in which the use of isotope tracers in catchment hydrology challenged traditional understandings of rainfall/runoff processes. The course also covered the application of isotopes in hydrograph separation, transit time calculation, model testing and evaluation, groundwater age dating and plant water source identification. We also had the pleasure of learning about the latest technology in stable water isotope analysis and soil and plant water extraction methods while touring the cryogenic vacuum extraction and soil physics labs, led by Kim Janzen and Cody Millar.
The collaborative atmosphere felt during lectures allowed students and researchers attending both in person as well as via WebEx to ask questions and receive feedback regarding their own research. After hearing course organizers, including our own Genevieve Ali, speak on their respective areas of expertise, we returned home to Winnipeg feeling re-inspired and with even more project ideas!
For a sneak peak on some of the group’s most recent research, keep an eye out for Cody Ross, Aminul Haque, and Genevieve Ali at the upcoming American Geophysical Union meeting Dec. 12-16, 2016 in San Francisco, CA.
To learn more about the Watershed Hydrology Lab led by Jeffrey McDonnell at the University of Saskatchewan, see the following link:
http://www.usask.ca/watershed/index.php
General information regarding this short course on isotopes in catchment hydrology can be found here:
http://www.usask.ca/watershed/teaching/isotope-tracers-in-catchment-hydrology%202017.php