World Water Day
The science of freezing
March 30, 2026
Share
Permafrost is ground that is at or below 0˚C for at least two years, with depths spanning from greater than 1,500 m to just short of one metre.
Beneath the rapidly warming landscapes of Canada’s North lies a critical environmental challenge – the thawing of permafrost soils. As temperatures rise, the integrity of infrastructure built on permafrost becomes compromised, contaminants reach sensitive waterways, and wildfires increase in severity. Since permafrost serves as a foundational component of Arctic ecosystems, Queen’s researcher Élise Devoie (Civil Engineering) has been studying this phenomenon with the goal of better understanding, predicting, and minimizing the negative impacts of thawing. Dr. Devoie’s work to address climate change by analyzing freeze/thaw dynamics has profound implications for the understanding of resources, and the way of life for Northern and Indigenous populations who are disproportionately affected.
The importance of permafrost
Permafrost is ground that is at or below 0˚C for at least two years. It can span depths greater than 1,500 m to just short of one metre with some of the oldest dating from around 700,000 BCE. In total, about 11 per cent of the globe’s surface is underlain by permafrost with the majority found in the Arctic region. It’s a race against time to predict and prepare for the resulting environmental impacts of widespread thaw from a warming climate.
Dr. Devoie’s research looks to fill the gaps in understanding permafrost freeze/thaw science by integrating numerical modelling and lab studies of freezing soils with current field data collection. Together, these approaches can help her develop adaptation and mitigation strategies for thaw-driven environmental impacts. One of her innovations was the development of a computational model that simulates freezing soil processes across spatial and temporal scales with an increased speed up to 2,000-fold compared to previous methods. With time being of the essence, this award-winning model can more rapidly represent freeze/thaw impacts not just in permafrost systems but anywhere the ground freezes.
Dr. Élise Devoie (Civil Engineering)
Collaborating with Indigenous communities
A central aspect of Dr. Devoie’s research is partnering with Northern and Indigenous communities to develop specialized regional climate change adaptation plans that fit within their cultural context. Currently, she is leading a project funded in part with $2.4 million from the Weston Family Foundation Northern Biodiversity Research Program. Working with the Tłı̨chǫ government, community government of Whatì, and government of the Northwest Territories along with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and other partner universities across North America, the project seeks to study aquatic systems in Tłı̨chǫ affected by wildfire. With a focus on analyzing how contaminants spread after environmental events and affect fish habitats, the goal is to measure how climate change impacts lake systems and how can we support their preservation and recovery.
“Community engagement is key in this project, especially since it is based explicitly on questions raised by community members,” says Dr. Devoie. “We continue to work together throughout the project, installing monitoring equipment in areas chosen by land users, and asking these experts for their help in interpreting the data and defining next steps.”
Global impact and recognition
Beyond her studies in the field, Dr. Devoie is contributing to global climate policy development. She is working with the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence to propose a new model to anticipate outcomes and test actions related to earth system science, geopolitics, and economics for international agencies. Additionally, in 2025, Dr. Devoie was named a member of the Global Young Academy (GYA) which brings together 200 members from around the world with an aim to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). GYA’s mission is to bring together scientists focused on solving global challenges and provides opportunities for collaborations, training in skills such as science communication and policy, and championing members to assume impactful roles in science and research development globally.
“I look forward to closer collaboration with the international community who shape the SDGs to help define the critical paths toward achieving sustainability, and problem solve roadblocks for the global community,” says Dr. Devoie. “I am hopeful that through the GYA I can work together with the global community to define a path forward for Canada’s North.”
Visit Dr. Devoie’s research profile to learn more about her work and the Global Young Academy website for its network of researchers.
