Remote Sensing and Biogeochemical Analyses of Sediments from the Willow River Catchment, NT, Canada Using Landsat Imagery and Field Samples from 2021.

The purpose of this research is to investigate how permafrost thaw and associated geomorphic disturbances are altering sedimentary and biogeochemical processes in the Willow River catchment on the Peel Plateau, Northwest Territories, Canada. This work combines remote sensing analyses and field-based measurements to evaluate landscape change and its environmental consequences. Landsat satellite imagery and ArcGIS were used to assess spatial and temporal patterns of terrain disturbance and surface change across the catchment. Complementary field sampling was conducted at permafrost headwalls, eroding riverbanks, landslides, lake beds, and adjacent forested areas to collect sediments for laboratory analysis. These samples were analyzed for carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, mineral composition, grain size, and other geochemical and physical properties to characterize sediment sources and environmental conditions. The resulting dataset supports an MSc research project and underpins the journal article submission: Smith, J. L. J., S. V. Kokelj, D. Froese, J. Tunnicliffe, A. Chiasson, A. Alvarez, J. B. Korosi, J. N. Mahaux, and S. E. Tank. Thaw-driven rejuvenation of sedimentary and geochemical cascades marks a transition into the Anthropocene on the Peel Plateau, NT, Canada. The data will be used to quantify thaw-driven landscape dynamics, interpret biogeochemical transformations, and improve understanding of how rapidly changing permafrost regions contribute to broader environmental transitions.