The Mackenzie GEWEX Study: The water and energy cycles of a major North American river basin

The Mackenzie River is the largest North American source of freshwater for the Arctic Ocean. This basin is subjected to wide fluctuations in its clima te and it is currently experiencing a pronounced warming trend. As a major Canadian contribution to the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWE X), the Mackenzie GEWEX Study (MAGS) is focusing on understanding and model ing the fluxes and reservoirs governing the now of water and energy into an d through the climate system of the Mackenzie River Basin. MAGS necessarily involves research into many atmospheric, land surface, and hydrological is sues associated with cold climate systems. The overall objectives and scope of MAGS will be presented in this article.