Centre for Hydrology
June 1

The D.M. Gray Award for Best Student Paper in Hydrology is a prestigious annual prize presented by the Hydrology Section of the Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU). It recognizes a student who delivers an outstanding oral presentation and paper based on original, high-significance hydrological research.
This year, it was awarded to Alana Muenchrath, a PhD candidate in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan, for her research focusing on understanding how a warming climate is driving permafrost thaw in the Northwest Territories.
“Permafrost landscapes are incredibly diverse across the North, so it’s important to understand how thaw processes differ across environments.”
Alana’s recent research examines how hydrological processes and soil moisture influence permafrost thaw.
“Hydrology and permafrost are inextricably linked. To understand permafrost systems, we must also understand the role of water.”
Her work demonstrates how water movement can transfer energy through landscapes and influence patterns of permafrost thaw. By improving the representation of hydrological processes in permafrost models, her research will support more accurate projections of permafrost change and its implications for northern ecosystems, water resources, and communities. Alana works with Dr. Andrew Ireson and Dr. Chris Spence at the Global Institute for Water Security.