Frédéric Bouchard

Director: Daniel Fortier
Codirector : Isabelle Laurion (INRS)

Primary Address:
INRS-ETE
490 de la Couronne
Québec (QC), Canada
G1K 9A9
(418) 654-3803

Email: [email protected]

Education

Postdoctoral fellowship, Wilfrid Laurier University and Université Laval. (2012-2014)
PhD Water sciences, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). (2007-2012)
MSc Geography, Université Laval. (2002-2005)
BSc Geology, Université Laval. (1997-2000)

Project Title

Carbon cycle and permafrost degradation: exploring the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems at Bylot Island, Nunavut.

Description of the project research

Widespread in permafrost regions, aquatic ecosystems (including thermokarst ponds and lakes) play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles, especially in greenhouse gas emissions (CO ₂ , CH ₄ ). Permafrost thawing can release large quantities of carbon from the soil. This release is variable in time and space: different local ground conditions (e.g., topography, hydrology, snow cover) result in a diversity of lake types and sizes, which will influence their biogeochemical dynamics. The age of carbon mobilized within aquatic ecosystems is also central in these dynamics: ‘young carbon’, involved in short-term processes (e.g., photosynthesis, respiration, microbial activity), is distinct from ‘old carbon’, which is in excess in the system and contributes in the amplification of climate warming. What happens at the scale of an Arctic watershed in transition?

The main objective of this research is to understand how the terrestrial (aquatic) component of the carbon cycle responds to permafrost degradation, especially through the inception and evolution of thermokarst ponds and lakes. More specifically:

1) Determine the age and source of carbon present within such ecosystems;
2) Characterize the relationships between the formation age, morphology and carbon content in ponds and lakes, and the chronostratigraphy of the surrounding organic soils (frozen peat);
3) Build a general model of the development of ponds and lakes in response to permafrost degradation.

Keywords
Permafrost, thermokarst, carbon, Arctic, Bylot Island

Scientific articles in peer-review journals & conferences

Fritz M, Deshpande BN, Bouchard F , Högstrom E, Lepage J, Morgenstern A, Nieuwendam A, Oliva M, Paquette M, Rudy ACA, Siewert MB, Sjöberg Y, Weege S (2015). Brief Communication: Future avenues for permafrost science from the perspective of early career researchers, The Cryosphere Discuss. 9, 1209-1225, DOI: 10.5194/tcd-9-1209-2015.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R, Laurion I, Feyte S (2014). Subarctic thermokarst ponds: investigating recent landscape evolution and sediment dynamics in thawed permafrost of northern Quebec (Canada). Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research , 46(1), 251-271. DOI: 10.1657/1938-4246-46.1.251.

Bouchard F , Turner KW, MacDonald LA, Deakin C, White H, Farquharson N, Medeiros AS, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R, Edwards TWD (2013). Vulnerability of shallow subarctic lakes to evaporate and desiccate when snowmelt runoff is low. Geophysical Research Letters 40(23), 6112-6117, DOI: 10.1002/2013GL058635.

Bouchard F , Pienitz R, Ortiz JD, Francus P, Laurion I (2013). Palaeolimnological conditions inferred from fossil diatom assemblages and derivative spectral properties of sediments in thermokarst ponds of subarctic Quebec, Canada. Boreas 42(3), 575-595. DOI: 10.1111/bor.12000.

Francus P, von Suchodoletz H, Dietze M, Donner RV, Bouchard F , Roy AJ, Fagot M, Verschuren D, Kröpelin S (2013). Varved sediments of Lake Yoa (Ounianga Kebir, Chad) reveal progressive drying of the Sahara during the last 6100 years. Sedimentology 60(4), 911-934. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3091.2012.01370.x.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R, Laurion I (2011). Sedimentology and geochemistry of thermokarst ponds in discontinuous permafrost, subarctic Quebec, Canada. Journal of Geophysical Research (Biogeosciences) 116, G00M04. DOI: 10/1029/2011JG001675.

Conference presentations

Bouchard F , Preskienis V, Laurion I, Fortier D (2014). Carbon Cycling in Permafrost Aquatic Systems of Bylot Island, Eastern Canadian Arctic . AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco (USA), Dcember 2014 ( invited ).

Bouchard F , Preskienis V, Laurion I, Fortier D (2014). Impacts of permafrost degradation processes on aquatic system biogeochemistry, Bylot Island, Nunavut . International Arctic Change 2014 Conference, Ottawa (ON), December 2014.

Bouchard F (2014). Carbon cycle and permafrost degradation: exploring the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems, Bylot Island, Nunavut . ACUNS (Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Research) Annual General Meeting, Québec (QC), October 2014 ( invited ).

Bouchard F , Turner KW, MacDonald LA, Deakin C, White H, Farquharson N, Medeiros AS, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R, Edwards TWD (2014). Vulnerability of shallow tundra lakes to evaporate and desiccate under low snowmelt runoff conditions: an example from two of Canada’s largest lake-rich permafrost landscapes . Fourth European Conference on Permafrost (EUCOP4), Évora (Portugal), June 2014.

Bouchard F , Turner KW, MacDonald LA, Deakin C, White H, Farquharson N, Medeiros AS, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R, Edwards TWD (2014). Evaporation and desiccation of shallow tundra lakes under conditions of low snowmelt runoff. Wapusk National Park Research and Monitoring Symposium, Winnipeg (MB), January 2014.

Bouchard F , Turner KW, MacDonald LA, Deakin C, White H, Farquharson N, Medeiros AS, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R, Edwards TWD (2013). The critical role of snowmelt runoff to shallow lakes in permafrost landscapes. ADAPT Workshop, ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), Halifax (N.-S.), December 2013.

Bouchard F , Turner KW, MacDonald LA, Deakin C, White H, Farquharson N, Medeiros AS, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R, Edwards TWD (2013). Recent shifts in source waters of shallow subarctic lakes: toward widespread desiccation? ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), Halifax (N.-S.), December 2013.

Bouchard F , Cassidy A, Deshpande B, Malenfant-Lepage J, Paquette M, Rudy A (2013). Sharing knowledge, skills, and experiences: ADAPT Early Career Researchers Association (AECRA) . Joint presentation of projects from ADAPT ( Arctic Development and Adaptation to Permafrost in Transition ) young researchers. PAGE21 General Assembly, Abisko (Sweden), September 2013.

Bouchard F , Deakin C, Turner KW, White H, MacDonald LA, Medeiros AS, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R (2013). Isotopic evidence for recent hydrological shifts in source waters of shallow lakes in northern freshwater landscapes . Québec-Ontario Paleolimnology Symposium (PALS), Ottawa (ON), May 2013.

Bouchard F , MacDonald LA, White H, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R (2013). Du stress climatique à la réponse hydrologique: dynamique récente de lacs de thermokarst dans les basses-terres occidentales de la Baie d’Hudson (Wapusk National Park, Manitoba) . Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) annual meeting, Université Laval, Québec (QC), May 2013.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R (2009). Recent dynamics of thermokarst ponds: a multi-proxy study from subarctic Quebec, Canada . 11 ^th International Paleolimnology Symposium, Guadalajara (Mexico), December 2009.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R, Rousseau MP (2008). Thermokarst lakes in subarctic Quebec: a preliminary view on past and recent dynamics . Québec-Ontario Paleolimnology Symposium (PALS), Québec (QC), May 2008.

Bouchard F , Barrette N, Allard M (2005). Climate change and permafrost : the example of Salluit (Nunavik) . Canadian Association of Geographers (ACG-CAG) annual meeting, London (ON), June 2005.

Bouchard F , Barrette N, Allard M (2004). Les microclimats de la vallée de Salluit et leur influence sur le régime thermique du pergélisol . Joint meeting of Association québécoise pour l’étude du quaternaire (AQQUA) and Canadian Quaternary Association (CANQUA), Québec (QC), May 2004.

Bouchard F , Barrette N, Allard M (2002). Les topoclimats et leur influence sur le régime thermique du pergélisol . Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) annual meeting, Université Laval, Québec (QC), December 2002.

Conference posters

Bouchard F , Turner KW, MacDonald LA, Deakin C, White H, Farquharson N, Medeiros AS, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R, Edwards TWD (2014). Evaporation and desiccation of thermokarst lakes under conditions of low snowmelt runoff in two of Canada’s largest lake-rich permafrost landscapes . Québec-Ontario Paleolimnology Symposium (PALS), Québec (QC), May 2014.

Bouchard F , Turner KW, MacDonald LA, Deakin C, White H, Farquharson N, Medeiros AS, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R, Edwards TWD (2014). Evaporation and desiccation of thermokarst lakes under conditions of low snowmelt runoff in two of Canada’s largest lake-rich permafrost landscapes . THAW 2014 – THermokarst Aquatic ecosystems Workshop, Québec (QC), March 2014.

Bouchard F , Wolfe BB, Pienitz R (2013). Dynamique récente de lacs de thermokarst : vers une approche “pan-hudsonienne” . Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) annual meeting, Université Laval, Québec (QC), May 2013.

Bouchard F , Macdonald LA, White H, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Pienitz R (2012). Inferring thermokarst landscape dynamics in the recent past using lacustrine sediments: Towards a “pan-Hudsonian” perspective . ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), Vancouver (B.-C.), December 2012.

Bouchard F , Pienitz R, Francus P (2012). Linking recent landscape changes in thawed permafrost with sediment dynamics in thermokarst ponds of subarctic Quebec (Canada) . AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco (USA), December 2012.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R, Laurion I, Ortiz JD (2012). Mares de thermokarst au Québec subarctique: du simple “produit dérivé” de la fonte du pergélisol à l’archive paléolimnologique . Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) annual meeting, Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), Rimouski (QC), February 2012.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R (2011). Recent dynamics of thermokarst ponds in discontinuous permafrost: a paleolimnological study from subarctic Quebec, Canada . AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco (USA), December 2011.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R, Laurion I (2011). Thermokarst ponds in northern Québec: a sedimentological study . 41 ^st Arctic Workshop, Montréal (QC), March 2011.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R (2010). Thermokarst ponds in subarctic Québec: a paleolimnological puzzle . Québec-Ontario Paleolimnology Symposium (PALS), Kingston (ON), May 2010.

Bouchard F , Francus P, Pienitz R (2009). Dynamique sédimentaire récente de mares de thermokarst au Québec subarctique . Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) annual meeting, Université Laval, Québec (QC), February 2009.

Bouchard F , Barrette N, Allard M (2004). Topoclimate and microclimates in Salluit valley (Nunavik) : impacts on permafrost surface temperature . Canadian Meteorological and Oceanorgraphic Society (SCMO-CMOS) annual meeting, Edmonton (AB), June 2004.

Scientific reports

Barrette N, Gauthier R, Bouchard F , Maheux JF (2004). Atlas climatique du Québec septentrional 1971-2000 . Ministère de l’Environnement du Québec, Programme d’aide à la recherche et au développement en environnement (PARDE), 56 p.

Barrette N, Bouchard F , Gauthier R, Blouin S (2004). Rapport synthèse: Températures et précipitations au Québec septentrional, 1971-2000 . Ministère de l’Environnement du Québec, Programme d’aide à la recherche et au développement en environnement (PARDE), 127 p.

Other communications (outreach)

Bouchard F (2014). Water, mud, and bubbles. Le cycle du carbone dans les écosystèmes aquatiques nordiques . Conference series ‘Les recherches postdoctorales en géographie’, Department of geography, Université de Montréal, Montréal (QC), November 2014.

Bouchard F (2014). Carbon, permafrost and lake studies at Bylot Island, Nunavut . Bilingual poster (Inuktitut-Anglais) presented at Pond Inlet Visitors Center (NU), July 2014.

Bouchard F (2014). Coring frozen ground: permafrost research across Canada . ‘The BirdFish’ newsletter, Churchill Northern Studies Center, Winter/Spring 2014 Edition.

Bouchard F (2013). The (very) exciting world of permafrost, thermokarst, and related climate change impacts . Presentation to Canadian students from the program “Shad Valley” (science and French immersion), Université Laval, Québec (QC), July 2013.

Bouchard F (2012). Thermokarst ponds from “the other side” of Hudson Bay (Kuujjuarapik-Whapmagoostui, Nunavik) . Presentation to members of Brent Wolfe (Wilfrid Laurier University) research group, University of Waterloo, Waterloo (ON), October 2012.

Bouchard F (2012). Thermokarst ponds 101 . Presentation to Canadian students from the program “Shad Valley” (science and French immersion), Université Laval, Québec (QC), July 2012.

Bouchard F , Rolland N, Richerol T, Tremblay R (2011). Introduction à la paléolimnologie . Joint presentation in the course “Méthodes de gestion intégrée des ressources et de l’espace”, Université Laval, Québec (QC), May 2011.

Bouchard F (2010-12). Méthodes de datation: le ²¹⁰ Pb . Presentation in the course “Paléolimnologie”, INRS-ETE, Québec (QC), February 2010 and February 2012.

Bouchard F , Dupont C (2009). Les mares de thermokarst pour les nuls … étudiants motivés (‘Thermokarst ponds for dummies … motivated students’) . Joint presentation in the course “Climatologie de l’environnement”, Université Laval, Québec (QC), January 2009.

Bouchard F (2005). La glace qui remplacera le pétrole? (‘The ice that will replace oil?’) . Finalist text at the Fernand-Seguin contest in scientific outreach (CBC/Radio-Canada), April 2005.

Bouchard F (2004). Changements climatiques et dynamique du pergélisol: l’exemple de Salluit (Nunavik) . Presentation in the course “Introduction à la climatologie”, Université Laval, Québec (QC), March 2004.

Scholarships and other awards

2014-2015: W. Garfield Weston Postdoctoral Fellowship in Northern Research
2014: Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship (postdoctoral), EnviroNorth (NSERC CREATE Training Program in Northern Environmental Sciences).
2012-2013: Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship (postdoctoral), EnviroNorth (NSERC CREATE Training Program in Northern Environmental Sciences).
2012: Mobility Fellowship (Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo ON), EnviroNorth (NSERC CREATE Training Program in Northern Environmental Sciences).
2012: Communication with Local Communities (Churchill MB), EnviroNorth (NSERC CREATE Training Program in Northern Environmental Sciences).
2012: Louis-Edmond Hamelin award (best oral/poster presentation, presented by EnviroNorth), Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) annual meeting.
2008-2009: PhD research scholarship, Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT).
2004: PhD research scholarship, Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT), refused.
2003-2004: Oscar-Villeneuve scholarship, Société de météorologie de Québec.
2000: Award for outstanding student involvement, Département de géologie et de génie géologique, Université Laval.
1998-1999: Scholarship in geological studies, Mazarin Mining Society.

Affiliations

CEN (Centre d’études nordiques – Centre for Northern Studies )
ArcticNet (Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada)
ADAPT (Arctic Development and Adaptation to Permafrost in Transition)
APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists)
PYRN (Permafrost Young Researchers Network)

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Frédéric Bouchard by Geocryolab is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License .