What is Groundwater?
Water is an important resource for all Albertans. Much of our water comes from surface sources, like rivers and lakes, which are easily accessible. Some of our water, however, is […]
What is the Role of Groundwater in the Hydrologic Cycle?
The water cycle. Source: USGS Water Cycle Diagrams The Hydrologic (or Water) Cycle is a dynamic system. It is a closed system, meaning that nothing can be lost, it can […]
Water Footprint by Crop and Region
The water footprint of various crops was simulated with the GEPIC model. For wheat, there is a general trend that regions with high precipitation have lower water footprint. This can be […]
Glacier Summary and Recommendations
Download Alberta Glacier Inventory and Ice Volume Estimation (PDF. 3.49 MB) Crowfoot Glacier in the Rockies The focus of this study is to make an accurate estimate of ice volume […]
Temperatures in the Canadian Rockies
Download Alberta Glacier Inventory and Ice Volume Estimation (PDF. 3.49 MB) Moraine Lake. Photo by Rafa Prada on Unsplash Glaciers of the Rockies are ‘isothermal’ – they are at the […]
Virtual Water Flows – Conclusions and Impacts
The average volume of annual virtual water exports from Alberta was 12.10 Gm3/year (during the period 1999-2008). The largest importers of virtual water from Alberta were: Japan (2.4 Gm3/year) Mexico […]
Virtual Water Flows – Conditions and Limitations
This study is, to our best understanding, the first comprehensive virtual water assessment of Alberta. Given the current absence of such assessments, we consider the results from this report encouraging […]
Virtual Water Flows – Exports and Imports
Crops In Alberta, the average annual volume of virtual water exports was 12.10 Gm3/year during the period 1999-2008 (see right chart). Wheat was the largest virtual water exporter, accounting for […]
Rockies Glaciology and Climatology
Download Alberta Glacier Inventory and Ice Volume Estimation (PDF. 3.49 MB) Athabasca Glacier Glaciers are perennial ice masses that are large enough to experience flow. Gravitationally driven ice motion occurs […]
Inventory of Glaciers in the Canadian Rockies
Download Alberta Glacier Inventory and Ice Volume Estimation (PDF. 3.49 MB) Historical Inventories The first Canadian glacier inventory was carried out between 1969 and 1974. Canada’s Department of Energy, Mining […]