Under the Oil Sands Monitoring Program (OSMP), Oil Sands Monitoring Branch conducts in-situ snow surveys and meteorological monitoring in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. The collection of long-term snow and meteorological data supports the characterization of climatic conditions within the lower Athabasca watershed and improves understanding of the natural variability and trends that influence surface water availability in the region.
Surface water quantity data are critical for a range of monitoring and management applications including the estimation of total loading (sediment and water quality), support for navigation (e.g., Athabasca mainstem), interpreting data collected by water quality or aquatic ecosystem monitoring results, and the development of environmental base flows to support the protection of aquatic ecosystems. Snow and meteorological data provide essential context for interpreting hydrological conditions and trends by allowing surface water quantity data to be evaluated relative to historical mean or extreme conditions. Together, these datasets improve understanding of the relationships between climate, hydrology, and watershed processes in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region.
