(YELLOWKNIFE) August 17, 2016 – Forest fires and melting permafrost are topics of intense interest in the Northwest Territories.  Both are front and centre at the next Ledge Talks: The Knowledge Series on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, at 7:30 pm in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly building when Oliver Sonnentag presents his research on “Permafrost Thaw and Fire History: Implications of Boreal Tree Cover Changes on Regional Climates in the Taiga Plains, Northwest Territories”.

Oliver Sonnentag is an Assistant Professer in the Département de géographie at the Université de Montréal.  Using satellite remote sensing in combination with micrometeorological measures, he will discuss how rapidly changing permafrost conditions and fire history affect boreal forest cover, and how changes in boreal forest cover may affect regional climates across the Taiga Plains.

There will be time for questions and discussion following the presentation. The public and media are invited to attend.  The proceedings will be webcast via the Legislative Assembly website: www.assembly.gov.nt.ca

Ledge Talks: The Knowledge Series is a forum for a wide variety of speakers to present current ideas, science, traditional knowledge, and issues relevant to the Northwest Territories and beyond.  Ledge Talks will also showcase research done by the many GNWT employees who are making substantial contributions to the world’s understanding of the North.

For more information, please contact: