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Kluane Lake Reseach Station The Kluane Lake Research Station (KLRS) is located in the Yukon Territory, at the southern tip of Kluane Lake, approximately 250 km from Whitehorse. The Station is situated at the convergence of major climatic systems and in close proximity to Canada's highest mountains - the St. Elias - and ice fields. The environmental gradient available for research from the station is unparalleled in Canada. The extreme elevation difference (>5000 m) between Kluane Lake and the crest of the St. Elias Mountains establishes a strong environmental gradient and creates exceptionally diverse research opportunities within a small geographical area. Since 1961, KLRS has hosted several generations of academic and government scientists and their students in a wide variety of fields of inquiry, ranging from glaciology, geomorphology, geology, ecology, botany, zoology, hydrology, limnology, climatology, high-altitude physiology, anthropology and archaeology.The Station is open from May to October. It can also be opened during the winter for smaller groups if there is a need. KLRS occupies 60 ha of land, adjacent to a gravel airstrip, leased from the Yukon Government. A privately operated on-site fixed-wing STOL charter aircraft equipped with ski wheels, GPS, and antenna mounts for wildlife survey is available. Other services provided include emergency services (evacuation and rescue), expediting, equipment and specimen storage, tools, mail, and radio telephone. In addition to on-site air support, a charter helicopter operates from Haines Junction 60 km (0.4 hr flying time) to the south. In the past several years, annual use has remained fairly constant at around 4000 user days. In 2009, KLRS received $3.393 million from the Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund to upgrade all facilities. The station is available to all researchers regardless of institutional affiliation or nationality. Neither the Arctic Institute of North America (AINA) nor the KLRS Users Committee sets research priorities or screens research projects, although safety and ethical concerns may be addressed by the station manager. Research permitting follows standard federal and territorial requirements. The Station is characterized by long-term research programs and is in the process of attracting a new cohort of researchers at the beginning of their careers. Research projects based at KLRS have resulted in more than 1000 publications, many of which are described in the Kluane Lake Research Station Bibliography: www.aina.ucalgary.ca/scripts/minisa.dll/144/klrs?DIRECTSEARCH More information about KLRS can be found at: www.arctic.ucalgary.ca/index.php?page=kluane_station |
