The Geological Survey of Canada and the Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre have established a new Geocryology Laboratory at Carleton University to facilitate joint research and to ensure adequate training for scientists and students in the field of permafrost research. This operation brings together equipment and expertise, some of it unique in Canada, from GSC and Carleton University in support of fundamental geocryological research, including the nature and behaviour of frozen soils and gas hydrates, and groundwater and soil remediation programs in cold regions.

GSC contributions to the facility include high precision thermal calibration equipment, thermal conductivity equipment, a cold room, and miscellaneous equipment suitable for experimental work and field studies. This comprehensive research-oriented laboratory can support fundamental and applied research.

Collaborative work with Russian researchers successfully developed and tested two fully instrumented gas hydrate test cells. A series of tests are determining the permeability of frozen sand to organic contaminants.