This dataset presents field and laboratory measurements of surface water properties and suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected in Big Lake and its connecting channels within the Mackenzie River Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada, during the 2025 and 2026 open-water seasons.
The primary objective of the research is to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of water properties and suspended sediment concentrations, with particular emphasis on sediment transport, exchange between the river and lake, and sediment trapping processes during spring freshet and subsequent open-water conditions.
The dataset includes measurements of water temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, salinity, and suspended particulate matter concentrations, together with additional water-quality parameters where available. Observations were conducted at 11 multiple sampling locations within Big Lake and its connecting channels, enabling the assessment of hydrological connectivity and sediment dynamics in an Arctic delta lake system.
The data provide a basis for evaluating sediment retention and transport processes in deltaic lakes and contribute to understanding their role in regulating sediment fluxes under changing Arctic hydrological conditions.
The research was conducted within the project Evaluation of the Settling Velocity and Trapping Capacity of Sediments in Lakes in the Great Arctic River Deltas, funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (NCN PRELUDIUM BIS 5, Grant No. 2023/50/O/ST10/00597). Field investigations were conducted under Northwest Territories Scientific Research Licences No. 17694 (2025) and No. 17921 (2026). The research activities were carried out with advisory support from the Resource Program Coordinator of the Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Committee (IHTC).
For further details, please consult the README.txt file.
(2026-07-23)
