The OG crops in The C.A.N were sacrificed for the betterment of the systems… the ‘Guinea pigs’ if you will;) The first few months of production in The C.A.N were filled with slow growing, nutrient deficient, wilting plants. It wasn’t hard to identify the problem, as all the plant roots were drowning in slime (see […]
Homegrown in Alert Read More »
“Flasks” –> The various types of glassware used to collect air for GHG analysis. As concerns about climate change and global warming have increased over the past few decades, greenhouse gases (GHGs) have acquired somewhat of a negative reputation. While it’s true that excessive amounts of GHGs can be harmful, they are also essential to
Greenhouse Gases in Alert Read More »
After a summer of construction, The C.A.N (Continuous Alert Nourishment) is ready to rock! We have shelves equipped with PVC pipes and dimmable LEDs, a (no longer ‘somewhat iffy’) air exchange system1, a jimmy-rigged water setup2, enough hydroponic equipment and seeds to last a few months, and of course, lots of enthusiasm! It’s nearly -30°C
The C.A.N – Updates Read More »
At last, my first attempt to merge a love for the North with a passion for food security. Du-na-na-na… introducing The C.A.N (Continuous Alert Nourishment) *pics below*, which will hopefully be the world’s most northern food production system (no plants yet)! Like many remote communities in the North, Alerts food supply is entirely reliant on
Ice coring for mercury analysis- 2024 Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the environment, originating from volcanic eruptions, geological erosion, and forest fires — but even at low levels, it can be highly toxic. Human activities now contribute significantly to the presence of mercury in the atmosphere, with major sources including coal burning, mining,
Earth’s atmosphere is made up of a bunch of gases, primarily nitrogen (~78%), oxygen (~20%), and argon (~1%). The remaining ~1% is largely carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour, and a variety of other trace gases, many of which are greenhouse gases1. Despite their relatively small proportion, CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) are critical players in
Arguably worthy of a post of its’ own — the journey to Alert is one for the books. It’s an 8.5hr flight from the base in Trenton (ON), which is longer than flying from Pearson (Toronto, CA) to Heathrow (London, UK). Flights typically stop for a night at the American Space Base in Thule (Greenland),
As a very lucky student at the University of Guelph, I landed my first coop job at the GAW lab in 2022. I shoveled my way into my bosses’ good graces and was awarded the position again in 2024. As the student, I clocked 8 months in Alert, many of which were in 24hour darkness,
