The Earth Observation System (EOS) provides the infrastructure needed to study and document ecosystems in the St. Lawrence River Valley (VFSL) in Quebec in order to develop a quantitative predictive model of system-wide interactions in the geobiosphère-climate of the region. A key aspect of EOS is its ability to include a combination of fixed facilities and a flexible mobile infrastructure to observe and analyze the Dynamic Terrestrial System (DES) in remote areas of Quebec. The VFSL climate is characterized by exceptional weather conditions (eg, ice storms), varied uses of land (urban, natural, etc.) and biodiversity flows (species loss and invasion).
The main objective of this project is to evaluate different final cover scenarios to reduce the production of leachate in a Saint-Nicéphore landfill, located in Drummondville, Quebec. In order to assess the percolation, the Université de Sherbrooke team proposed to build an experimental plan on the existing coverage of the site. Five lysimeters were built in 4 enclosures, that is to say areas where all the runoff water is collected in order to monitor their quantity and quality over time. The quality must be monitored due to the presence of contaminated soil in some of the scenarios under study, while the quantities are used to carry out water balances over time. This project is done in collaboration with the company Waste Management and receives financial support from WM, CRSNG and CRIBIQ.
The purpose of the BEREV is to characterize the water cycle and the surface flows (energy, water and carbon) in a boreal environment in order to increase our understanding of the hydrological and hydrometeorological processes in the presence of abundant snow, in support of a better modeling and better forestry practices. In particular, BEREV has micrometeorological equipment above the canopy. To know more, watch this webinar about the BEREV: https://youtu.be/-bbwMuuYLYg
The main equipment for characterizing the physical and geochemical properties of aquifers is a specialized Geotech 605 drilling rig. With the data collected, it is possible to model the flow of water and the transport of contaminants in aquifers. It is also possible to assess the vulnerability of aquifers to contamination, to determine the most suitable protection methods and methods of exploitation for sustainable management of the groundwater resource. This crawler drill has a real-time recording system of mechanical and electrical soil responses. It also allows soil or groundwater sampling by installing observation wells. The system has two drilling heads, one for drilling by penetration (cone penetration) in loose deposits, and another equipped with a hydraulic hammer for rotary impact drilling up to 50 m in rock and loose deposits according to the conditions.