News Research
Winter weather doesn’t get in the way of groundwater research for Morwick team

Fieldwork is the foundational core of the research carried out at Morwick G360. Real world sites offer the ability to capture comprehensive, high-resolution datasets about unique subsurface conditions, enabling us to better understand groundwater systems and contaminants, and devise more effective remediation techniques to keep our drinking water safe. In this way, fieldwork is and incredibly rewarding undertaking, but it can also be a challenge, especially when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

This month, for example, at a research site at the Grayling Army Airfield, Michigan, where Morwick G360 researchers in collaboration with partners Arcadis and ENRX are testing new methods of measuring mass flux (the movement of contaminants across an area), an unexpectedly heavy snowfall blanketed the area.

Dr. Jonathan Munn, who was heading out to the site, woke up to a message that: “the site area received up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) of snow in the last 24 hours. Drive carefully – take it slow in ice and snow. Monday looks like it will be windy (13-20 mph), which really increases the chill factor on this site. Tuesday and Wednesday looks like temperatures will be pretty low (highs around 20F/-7C) with moderate winds. Dress warmly.”

With safety precautions taken, and shovels in hand, the wintery weather didn’t hold the team back or keep them from splicing a fibre optic network to run planned A-DTS tests to measure groundwater flow. Just another day in the field.