Permafrost Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The world is in dynamic flux and ever changing, which prompted me to update my previous paper. The 2020 CNN climate map below was tied to the hottest year ever recorded according to CNN 2. The max. temp. difference is in the Siberian... more

The world is in dynamic flux and ever changing, which prompted me to update my previous paper. The 2020 CNN climate map below was tied to the hottest year ever recorded according to CNN 2. The max. temp. difference is in the Siberian Artic. Assuming average values over the period, what appears amazing is that maximum temperature differences in 10 years at the North and South poles appear to be over 10 o C. This cannot be due to human activity, particularly not in Northern Siberia. Canada seems substantially cooler at similar latitudes than Siberia. Temperatures below the Equator appear to be much lower than those above. Canada and Australia have similar development but Canada seems vastly cooler. China with a large polulation and industry, emittimg much SOx (a cooling agent) seems cooler. This cooling trend is also seen from central Asia to China. Why? It appears that CO 2 is not the culprit as its radiative forcing is small, distributed in higher population areas and not in northern Siberia. CO 2 causes photosynthesis thus greening, NASA LAI shows it 1. If so something else causes it. The answer is "very probably methane (CH 4)" and various "Clean Air" acts that outlawed Sulfur in fuels limiting SOx emissions, reducing low cloud formations which block solar heating. These Acts starteted 1970 in the US with ammendments to 1990. The EU finalized theirs in 1997. In 2000-10 China's economic expansion produced vast SOx emissions causing 1998-2008 hiatus slowing temperature rise(Fig. 21, 22) 1 .

The objective of the study has been to investigate whether cold-adapted microorganisms (CAMs) are metabolising hydrocarbons in situ at sub-zero temperatures. Since the summer 2001, soil temperatures and soil gas concentrations of oxygen... more

The objective of the study has been to investigate whether cold-adapted microorganisms (CAMs) are metabolising hydrocarbons in situ at sub-zero temperatures. Since the summer 2001, soil temperatures and soil gas concentrations of oxygen (O 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) at various depths at a petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated permafrost site at Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, have continuously been measured and compared to data from a nearby non-contaminated site. We have previously reported on unchanged microbial O 2 consumption in the active layer for about 12 days after the soil temperatures decreased below 0 8C in late October 2001 and we are now reporting on the microbial activity in the soil profile from January to September 2002. The empirical data have been compared to theoretical simulations of O 2 concentration as a function of soil depth and time from when the CAMs became active in spring until steady-state conditions were achieved in the summer. At the 0.7 m depth in the oil-plume site, microbial O 2 consumption started in the middle of April, about 45 days before the soil thawed. There was no coincidence between the microbial activation time and the thawing time of the soil. The CAMs became active at temperatures of about À6 8C, but the main degradation activity occurred at temperatures between À1 and À3 8C. When the soil thawed, the hydrocarbon degradation was probably limited by the O 2 supply. In the summer months where we expected the greatest degradation activity to occur because of positive temperatures and access to water, the degradation was limited by O 2 depletion. The overall data from this arctic permafrost site indicate that without other limiting conditions such as O 2 and 0165-232X/$ -see front matter D substrate availability, the active biodegradation period can be extended to about 6 months despite periods with sub-zero soil temperatures. D

frozen ground permafrost geocryology Quaternary geology ground ice cryostructure Cryostratigraphy adopts concepts from both Russian geocryology and modern sedimentology. Structures formed by the amount and distribution of ice within... more

frozen ground permafrost geocryology Quaternary geology ground ice cryostructure Cryostratigraphy adopts concepts from both Russian geocryology and modern sedimentology. Structures formed by the amount and distribution of ice within sediment and rock are termed cryostructures. Typically, layered cryostructures are indicative of syngenetic permafrost while reticulate and irregular cryostructures are indicative of epigenetic permafrost. 'Cryofacies' can be defined according to patterns of sediment characterized by distinct ice lenses and layers, volumetric ice content and ice-crystal size. Cryofacies can be subdivided according to cryostructure. Where a number of cryofacies form a distinctive cryostratigraphic unit, these are termed a 'cryofacies assemblage'. The recognition, if present, of (i) thaw unconformities, (ii) other ice bodies such as vein ice (ice wedges), aggradational ice and thermokarst-cave ('pool') ice, and (iii) ice, sand and gravelly pseudomorphs is also important in determining the nature of the freezing process, the conditions under which frozen sediment accumulates, and the history of permafrost.

Climate change is expected to cause extensive vegetation changes in the Arctic: deciduous shrubs are already expanding, in response to climate warming. The results from transect studies suggest that increasing shrub cover will impact... more

Climate change is expected to cause extensive vegetation changes in the Arctic: deciduous shrubs are already expanding, in response to climate warming. The results from transect studies suggest that increasing shrub cover will impact significantly on the surface energy balance. However, little is known about the direct effects of shrub cover on permafrost thaw during summer. We experimentally quantified the influence of Betula nana cover on permafrost thaw in a moist tundra site in northeast Siberia with continuous permafrost. We measured the thaw depth of the soil, also called the active layer thickness (ALT), ground heat flux and net radiation in 10 m diameter plots with natural B. nana cover (control plots) and in plots in which B. nana was removed (removal plots). Removal of B. nana increased ALT by 9% on average late in the growing season, compared with control plots. Differences in ALT correlated well with differences in ground heat flux between the control plots and B. nana removal plots. In the undisturbed control plots, we found an inverse correlation between B. nana cover and late growing season ALT. These results suggest that the expected expansion of deciduous shrubs in the Arctic region, triggered by climate warming, may reduce summer permafrost thaw. Increased shrub growth may thus partially offset further permafrost degradation by future temperature increases. Permafrost models need to include a dynamic vegetation component to accurately predict future permafrost thaw.

This article describes the first attempt to conduct electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in solid permafrost-affected rock faces. Electrode design, instrument settings, and processing routines capable of measuring under relevant... more

This article describes the first attempt to conduct electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in solid permafrost-affected rock faces. Electrode design, instrument settings, and processing routines capable of measuring under relevant conditions were developed. Four transects, with ...

Over the past decades, a number of different Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) techniques were developed for mapping the surface of the planets either from Earth or from orbiting spacecrafts. However, the idea to use radar to study the... more

Over the past decades, a number of different Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) techniques were developed for mapping the surface of the planets either from Earth or from orbiting spacecrafts. However, the idea to use radar to study the subsurface started to develop during the last 15 years. The ability of the radio waves to penetrate the ice, permafrost and arid surface was at the origins of the development of the Ground Penetrating Radars (GPR). GPRs have been widely applied on Earth with a large number of the scientific and industrial applications. The application of GPR to the space exploration relies on the same operation principle but requires the development of low power and low mass equipment. In this paper, we start by a short summary of the general electromagnetic behavior of the materials that determines the principal characteristics of ground penetrating instruments. Then we describe the GPR instrument that was developed for the Mars 1998 mission (unfortunately cancelled). Then, we discuss a general GPR design that can be implemented on future rover missions. The measurements from the surface cannot replace the global mapping from orbit using orbital radar sounders. MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding) [1]and SHARAD (SHAllow subsurface RADar) [2] radars are examples of these orbital radar sounders that are now in Mars orbit on the Mars Express (ESA) spacecraft and MRO (NASA). The Lunar radar Sounder (LRS) on the Japanese Kaguya (Selene) mission (2008 -2010) was the radar sounder on the Moon [9]

Qinghai-Tibet railway is famous for its constructional difficulties and challenges imposed during construction of the railway line. The Chinese engineers however managed to overcome the challenges like permafrost, provision of steady... more

Qinghai-Tibet railway is famous for its constructional difficulties and challenges imposed during construction of the railway line. The Chinese engineers however managed to overcome the challenges like permafrost, provision of steady gradient and tunneling especially at a height of 4.9 km above Mean Sea Level. Also at such a height the oxygen level is another short coming for passengers. This presentation merely discusses the challenges and its solution. It's expected that young students and university students will find this presentation handy for getting a brief idea on the engineering challenges especially in railway engineering in frozen areas.
(Note: This presentation is best viewed in MS office-2010 and above and windows media player of win-7 and above)

A new element of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) has been inaugurated addressing the role of the cryosphere in climate. A Science and Co-ordination Plan has been issued for the Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project. Topics of... more

A new element of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) has been inaugurated addressing the role of the cryosphere in climate. A Science and Co-ordination Plan has been issued for the Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project. Topics of concern for high mountain hydrology are; ice caps and glaciers, seasonal snow cover, freshwater ice, and seasonally frozen ground and permafrost. The principal scientific questions relating to the cryosphere in mountain regions are reviewed. CliC wil also examine the role of cryospheric components as indicators of climate variability and change building on ongoing programs of glacier and permaforst monitoring.

По материалам полевых геоботанических описаний, данных дистанционного зондирования и ана-лиза древесно-кольцевых хронологий изучена динамика растительности в восточной части Тазовского полуострова. Показано, что изменения растительного... more

По материалам полевых геоботанических описаний, данных дистанционного зондирования и ана-лиза древесно-кольцевых хронологий изучена динамика растительности в восточной части Тазовского полуострова. Показано, что изменения растительного покрова в течение трех последних десятилетий были связаны с потеплением климата, под влиянием которого усилился процесс формирования новых биотопов после дренирования термокарстовых озер и улучшились условия произрастания древесных видов. Со-кращение площади озер за период 1988-2016 гг. составило 20 %, что близко к максимальным показателям в Западной Сибири и свидетельствует об активизации термоэрозионных процессов. Отмечается увеличе-ние радиального прироста лиственницы, причем это увеличение на водоразделе выражено сильнее, чем в долине р. Монгаюрбей, что говорит об увеличении мощности сезонноталого слоя и выравнивании темпе-ратурного поля в различных ландшафтных условиях. Антропогенные сукцессии растительности вызваны нарушениями при освоении Юрхаровского месторождения. Особенно быстро, в течение 3-4 лет, восста-навливаются осоково-пушицевые и злаково-разнотравные сообщества хасыреев. Однако процесс форми-рования на их месте ерниково-кустарничково-лишайниково-моховых сообществ, сопровождающийся уменьшением глубины сезонного протаивания, занимает более 30 лет. Следы от внедорожного движения транспорта и прокладки линейных сооружений на космоснимках наблюдаются на протяжении 12-20 лет (в редких случаях 25 лет), что близко к показателям сопредельных районов. Подсчеты вегетационного индекса (normalized diff erence vegetation index-NDVI) продемонстрировали его рост в зависимости от температуры воздуха в летний период и суммы осадков, начиная с даты установления снежного покрова. Тундры, Тазовский полуостров, динамика растительности, изменение климата, древесно-кольцевые хронологии, криогенные процессы Based on fi eld geobotanical descriptions, remote sensing data and analysis of tree-ring chronologies, the dynamics of vegetation in the eastern part of the Tazovsky Peninsula has been studied. The dynamic of vegetation has been shown to be caused by climate changes, and the radial growth of larch, as well as drainage of thermokarst lakes, increases under the infl uence of climate warming. Reduction in the area of lakes proved to be 20 %, corresponding to the maximal parameters in Western Siberia, suggesting activation of thermoerosion processes. Radial growth of larch has increased at the watershed more than in the fl oodplain, indicating an increase in the thickness of the active layer and levelling of the temperature fi eld in various landscape conditions. Anthropo-genic succession of vegetation was caused by disturbances during development of the Yurkharovskoye gas fi eld. The sedge-cotton grass and grassy-herb communities of drained lakes ("khasyreys") are restored most rapidly (within 3-4 years) after anthropogenic disturbances. However, the process of formation of dwarf birch-shrub-lichen-moss communities in their place, accompanied by a decrease in the depth of seasonal thawing, takes more than 30 years. The off-road vehicle tracks and other linear disturbances on satellite images can be traced for 12-20, in rare cases 25 years. Calculation of the normalized diff erence vegetation index (NDVI) has demonstrated its dependence on air temperatures in the summer and the amount of precipitation of the preceding period , starting from the date of snow cover formation.

A regional map of permafrost distribution in Iceland was developed based on meteorological data. The regional model was calibrated with ground surface temperature data and tested using ground temperature data from four shallow boreholes... more

A regional map of permafrost distribution in Iceland was developed based on meteorological data. The regional model was calibrated with ground surface temperature data and tested using ground temperature data from four shallow boreholes and a rock glacier inventory. The results indicate widespread mountain permafrost at elevations above 800–900 m a.s.l. in northern and eastern Iceland. According to the regional map, the mountain permafrost zone covers c. 8000 km2 which is about 8% of the country's land area. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Knowledge of the varying patterns of thermokarst landforms, their dynamic processes, and terrain and ecological factors affecting development is essential to understand the response of polar ecosystems to climate change and human impacts.... more

Knowledge of the varying patterns of thermokarst landforms, their dynamic processes, and terrain and ecological factors
affecting development is essential to understand the response of polar ecosystems to climate change and human impacts.
Studies from Arctic, Subarctic, and Antarctic regions have identified 23 thermokarst landforms associated with varying
terrain conditions, ground ice volumes and morphologies, and heat and mass transfer processes. These include: deep
thermokarst lake, shallow thermokarst lake, glacial thermokarst lake, glacial thermokarst, thermokarst basin, thermokarstlake
basin, thaw sink, thermokarst fen, thermokarst bog, thermokarst shore fen, thaw slump, detachment slide, collapsed pingo, beaded stream, thermal erosion gully, thermokarst water track, collapse-block shore, ice-block landslide, thermokarst troughs and pits, thermokarst pits, conical thermokarst mounds, irregular thermokarst mounds, and sink holes. Thermokarst development variously involves the transfer of heat through conductive, convective, and radiative processes, and the movement of materials through fluvial and colluvial geomorphic processes. Permafrost degradation is a highly dynamic process that involves continual changes in surface topography, surface water, groundwater, soil properties, vegetation, and snow, and, thus, energy balance and heat transfer processes, which can be subject to both positive and negative feedbacks. Owing to these dynamics, thermokarst goes through temporal changes involving initial and advance stages of degradation and stabilization, but recovery to original permafrost and ecological conditions is rare.

Visual year-round observations have shown that snow avalanches are driving the formation of rock glaciers near the glacier Larsbreen in central Svalbard. Here, avalanches are important suppliers of fresh rock debris, but they also... more

Visual year-round observations have shown that snow avalanches are driving the formation of rock glaciers near the glacier Larsbreen in central Svalbard. Here, avalanches are important suppliers of fresh rock debris, but they also represent the means by which ice is added to the rock glacier interior. During the winter, 1-5 m avalanche snow containing rock debris accumulates, ablating during the following summer, but a gradually accumulating surface layer of released rock debris increasingly reduces the ablation rate. Refreezing of percolating surface water during the ablation season enhances the metamorphosis from avalanche snow into solid ice, assisted by low permafrost temperatures below the avalanche snow. At the end of each summer, a 0-100 cm thick layer consisting of remnant avalanche snow covered by a surface debris layer has been added to the rock glacier permafrost body along the initiation line. Depending upon thickness, slope, relative ice content and temperature, deformation of such thickening layered avalanche deposits eventually leads to the formation of a rock glacier in the run-out zones of snow avalanches in permafrost regions. Avalanche-nourished rock glaciers are expected to exhibit a regional downwind preferred orientation.

TR: Kutuplar pek çok farklı fiziksel sürecin incelenebildiği, gezegenimizin doğal ve küresel süreçleri hakkında bilgi sahibi olacağımız önemli bölgelerindendir. Bu sebeple bu bölgelerde araştırmalarını yürüten bilim insanlarının... more

TR:
Kutuplar pek çok farklı fiziksel sürecin incelenebildiği, gezegenimizin doğal ve küresel süreçleri hakkında bilgi sahibi olacağımız önemli bölgelerindendir. Bu sebeple bu bölgelerde araştırmalarını yürüten bilim insanlarının bilgilerini eğitimcilerle paylaşmasının ve eğitimcilerin de öğrencilerine aktarmasının bilginin hızlı yayılmasına ve kutup bölgelerine olan ilginin artmasına yardımcı olacağı düşünülmektedir. Bu araştırmanın amacı özel yetenekli öğrencilerin bazı kutup fenomenlerine ilişkin görüşlerini belirlemek ve bilgi edinme sürecinde yararlandıkları bilgi kaynaklarının kökenini araştırmaktır.
EN:
The polar regions have a crucial role in which many different physical processes can be studied and where we can learn about the natural and global processes of our planet. For this reason, it is thought that sharing the knowledge of scientists conducting their research in these regions with educators and transferring them to their students will help the rapid spread of knowledge and increase the interest in polar regions. The aim of this research is to determine the views of gifted students on some polar phenomena and to investigate the origin of the sources of information they use in the process of obtaining information.

For more than a century there have been reports of living organisms in permafrost, some of which are claimed to be millions of years old. Interest in organisms surviving in extreme environments (extremophiles) has been stimulated recently... more

For more than a century there have been reports of living organisms in permafrost, some of which are claimed to be millions of years old. Interest in organisms surviving in extreme environments (extremophiles) has been stimulated recently by reliable evidence of bacterial growth in many quite different and unexpected situations. Such bacteria can have an abnormal longevity. This paper examines frozen ground as an environment for microorganisms and a comparison is made with the characteristics of those living in other extreme environments. It seems certain that some species of bacteria survive in permafrost for long periods of time -far in excess of their 'normal' life span. The characteristics of 'permafrost' bacteria are such that they present opportunities for biotechnical engineering of species so as to increase their effectivity in bioremediation of contaminated ground in cold regions.

At an archaeological excavation site in central Belgium, we found whitish soil material interspersing a clay illuviation horizon under a Roman road. Starting from this case, we will illustrate how insights into soil formation and soil... more

At an archaeological excavation site in central Belgium, we found whitish soil material interspersing a clay illuviation horizon under a Roman road. Starting from this case, we will illustrate how insights into soil formation and soil geography are relevant for understanding landscape evolution and archaeology. We do this by focusing on the 'Abc' soil types, which are silt-loam soils that are well-drained and have a mottled and discontinuous clay illuviation horizon. In Belgium, these soils are, almost exclusively, found under ancient forests. To explain their formation, two hypotheses have been proposed. A first assumes that chemical weathering leads to the degradation of the clay illuviation horizon, a process enhanced by the acidifying effect of forest vegetation. A second hypothesis explains their morphology as relict features from periglacial phenomena. We further review how views on their formation were reflected in Soil Taxonomy (Glossudalfs), the FAO legend of the soil map of the world (Podzoluvisols) and in the World Reference Base for soil resources (Albeluvisols and Retisols). If we accept the hypothesis that the morphology of the Abc soil types has to be attributed to periglacial phenomena , Abc soil types must have been more widespread before deforestation. Agricultural activities promoted the homog-enisation of the subsoil and the fading of their morphologic characteristics. A Roman road would have prevented such a homogenisation process. These insights help elucidate the evolution of past and current landscapes.

Geophysical techniques can be used to examine the spatial distribution of subsurface geophysical properties to delineate horizontally and vertically the active layer, permafrost and taliks. Spatial and temporal changes in subsurface... more

Geophysical techniques can be used to examine the spatial distribution of subsurface geophysical properties to delineate horizontally and vertically the active layer, permafrost and taliks. Spatial and temporal changes in subsurface geophysical properties due to permafrost cooling, warming, aggradation or degradation can also be assessed through geophysical monitoring. This paper reviews the geophysical methods most frequently applied in mountain and arctic/subarctic lowland permafrost investigations. Key results and recommendations based on the analysis of the applicability and reliability of different geophysical techniques for permafrost studies are summarised. Emphasis is put on the tomographic capabilities of geophysical methods. Recent advances in application and data interpretation are shown in relation to five case studies, and future perspectives are highlighted. Electrical resistivity and refraction seismic tomograms along a vegetated scree slope with isolated permafrost lenses at relatively low elevation in the Bever Valley, Switzerland.

Climate change, manifested by an increase in mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures and by more intense rainstorms, is becoming more evident in many regions. An important consequence of these changes may be an increase in landslides in... more

Climate change, manifested by an increase in mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures and by more intense rainstorms, is becoming more evident in many regions. An important consequence of these changes may be an increase in landslides in high mountains. More research, however, is necessary to detect changes in landslide magnitude and frequency related to contemporary climate, particularly in alpine regions hosting glaciers, permafrost, and snow. These regions not only are sensitive to changes in both temperature and precipitation, but are also areas in which landslides are ubiquitous even under a stable climate. We analyze a series of catastrophic slope failures that occurred in the mountains of Europe, the Americas, and the Caucasus since the end of the 1990s. We distinguish between rock and ice avalanches, debris flows from de-glaciated areas, and landslides that involve dynamic interactions with glacial and river processes. Analysis of these events indicates several important controls on slope stability in high mountains, including: the non-linear response of firn and ice to warming; three-dimensional warming of subsurface bedrock and its relation to site geology; de-glaciation accompanied by exposure of new sediment; and combined short-term effects of precipitation and temperature. Based on several case studies, we propose that the following mechanisms can significantly alter landslide magnitude and frequency, and thus hazard, under warming conditions: (1) positive feedbacks acting on mass movement processes that after an initial climatic stimulus may evolve independently of climate change; (2) threshold behavior and tipping points in geomorphic systems; (3) storage of sediment and ice involving important lag-time effects.

Tundra fires are projected to increase with anthropogenic climate change, yet our ability to assess key wildfire metrics such as fire severity remains limited. The Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) is the most commonly applied index for fire... more

Tundra fires are projected to increase with anthropogenic climate change, yet our ability to assess key wildfire metrics such as fire severity remains limited. The Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) is the most commonly applied index for fire severity mapping. However, the computation of NBR depends on shortwave infrared (SWIR) data, which are not commonly available from historical and contemporary high-resolution (≤4 m) optical imagery. The increasing availability of visible near-infrared (VNIR) measurements from proximal to spaceborne sensors/ platforms has the potential to advance our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of fire severity within tundra fires. Here we systematically assess the feasibility of using VNIR data for fire severity mapping in ten Alaskan tundra fires (cumulatively burned ~1700 km 2). We compared the accuracy of 10 published VNIR-based fire indices using both uni-temporal (post-fire image) and bi-temporal (pre-fire and post-fire image difference) assessments against ground-based fire severity data (Composite Burn Index, CBI) at 109 tundra sites. The Global Environmental Monitoring Index (GEMI) had the highest correspondence with CBI (R 2 = 0.77 uni-temporal; R 2 = 0.85 bi-temporal), with similar performance to NBR (R 2 = 0.77 uni-temporal; R 2 = 0.83 bi-temporal). Tundra vegetation types affected NBR but not GEMI, as SWIR reflectance was influenced to a greater extent in shrub than graminoid tundra. We applied GEMI to contemporary high-resolution (i.e. Quickbird 2) and historical meso-resolution imagery (i.e. Landsat Multispectral Scanner) to demonstrate the capability of GEMI for resolving fine-scale patterns of fire severity and extending fire severity archives. Results suggest that GEMI accurately captured the heterogeneous patterns of tundra fire severity across fire seasons, ecoregions, and vegetation types.

The article is devoted to the disclosure of the phenomenon of steppe Arctic and to the role of Yakut-herdsmen in the development of extreme northern territories and to the formation of the original version of „northern nomadism“. The... more

The article is devoted to the disclosure of the phenomenon of steppe Arctic and to the role of Yakut-herdsmen in the development of extreme northern territories and to the formation of the original version of „northern nomadism“. The Yakuts are the most northern cattle-breeding Turcic-speaking people of Siberia, who early broke away from the main core of the Turks and due to the complex migration processes they eventually found themselves in North Asia. On the basis of interdisciplinary analysis, the article develops strategies for adapting horse breeding culture in the North. The geocultural approach made it possible to reveal the spatial representations of the Sakha people associated with the memory of the south, which formed a mental map of the northern landscape. The geoethnic and mental landscape of the „South“ formed a peculiar model of nomad cultures, introduced its own variations, set its rhythm and movement in the Arctic world.

Jorgenson, M. T., H. J. Walker, J. Brown, K. Hinkel, Y. Shur, T. Osterkamp, C.-L. Ping, M. Kanevskiy, W. Eisner, C. Rea and A. Jensen. 2011. Coastal Region of Northern Alaska: Guidebook to Permafrost and Related Features. Fairbanks, Ak,... more

Jorgenson, M. T., H. J. Walker, J. Brown, K. Hinkel, Y. Shur, T. Osterkamp, C.-L. Ping, M. Kanevskiy, W. Eisner, C. Rea and A. Jensen. 2011. Coastal Region of Northern Alaska: Guidebook to Permafrost and Related Features. Fairbanks, Ak, Alaska Division of Geophysical and Geological Surveys. 188 pgs.

An overview is given of the relatively short history, important issues and primary challenges of research on permafrost in cold mountain regions. The systematic application of diverse approaches and technologies contributes to a rapidly... more

An overview is given of the relatively short history, important issues and primary challenges of research on permafrost in cold mountain regions. The systematic application of diverse approaches and technologies contributes to a rapidly growing knowledge base about the existence, characteristics and evolution in time of perennially frozen ground at high altitudes and on steep slopes. These approaches and technologies include (1) drilling, borehole measurement, geophysical sounding, photogrammetry, laser altimetry, GPS/SAR surveying, and miniature temperature data logging in remote areas that are often difficult to access, (2) laboratory investigations (e.g. rheology and stability of icerock mixtures), (3) analyses of digital terrain information, (4) numerical simulations (e.g. subsurface thermal conditions under complex topography) and (5) spatial models (e.g. distribution of permafrost where surface and microclimatic conditions are highly variable spatially). A sound knowledge base and improved understanding of governing processes are urgently needed to deal effectively with the consequences of climate change on the evolution of mountain landscapes and, especially, of steep mountain slope hazards as the stabilizing permafrost warms and degrades. Interactions between glaciers and permafrost in cold mountain regions have so far received comparatively little attention and need more systematic investigation.

Increased attention directed at the permafrost region has been prompted by resource development and climate change. This review surveys advances in permafrost hydrology since 2000. Data shortage and data quality remain serious concerns.... more

Increased attention directed at the permafrost region has been prompted by resource development and climate change. This review surveys advances in permafrost hydrology since 2000. Data shortage and data quality remain serious concerns. Yet, there has been much progress in understanding fundamental hydrologic processes operating in a wide range of environments, from steep mountainous catchments, to the Precambrian Shield with moderate relief, to the low-gradient terrain of plains, plateaus and wetlands. Much of the recent research has focused on surface water, although springs and groundwater contribution to streamflow have also been studied. A compendium of water-balance research from 39 high-latitude catchments reveals the strengths and limitations of the available results, most of which are restricted to only a few years of study at the small watershed scale. The response of streamflow to climate receives continued if not increasing attention, from the occurrence of extreme hydrologic events to the changing regimes of river flow at a regional scale. The effect of climate change and the role of permafrost on the changing discharge of large boreal rivers are major topics for further investigation. Extended field and modelling research on physical processes will improve knowledge of permafrost hydrology and enhance its relevance to societal needs. 238 M.-K. Woo et al. cover on the tundra upland, snow-clad wooded slopes and a mountain lake that still retains an ice cover; (b) continuous permafrost environment at Vendom Fiord, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, showing residual snow at high elevations and in gullies in early summer.

Internal structures in four rock glaciers in the continuous permafrost zone on the island of Prins Karls Forland, western Svalbard 78°50 0 N, 10°30 0 E , were studied utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR). A comparative study was... more

Internal structures in four rock glaciers in the continuous permafrost zone on the island of Prins Karls Forland, western Svalbard 78°50 0 N, 10°30 0 E , were studied utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR). A comparative study was performed on the Brøggerbreen rock glacier close to Ny-Ålesund, about 50 km to the east. The bedrock interface was visible on some GPR profiles. Further, the length profiles revealed a system of reflectors that was comparable between the different rock glaciers. A layering structure parallel with the surface was visible in the upper part of the talus cones above the rock glaciers, while further down towards the rock glaciers these reflectors started to slant up against the surface slope. This inclination of the layers prevailed towards the fronts, although a more irregular pattern was discernible in the frontal part of some of the rock glaciers. The layering structure is probably formed by mass movements of higher magnitude, covering either snow patches or the active layer above supersaturated permafrost. We suggest that the structural development along the rock glaciers is caused by an accumulation gradient along the talus-cone/rock-glaciers system, causing differences in vertical velocity along a layer.

Rock glaciers occur as lobate or tongue-shaped landforms composed of mixtures of poorly sorted, angular to blocky rock debris and ice. These landforms serve as primary sinks for ice and water storage in mountainous areas and represent... more

Rock glaciers occur as lobate or tongue-shaped landforms composed of mixtures of poorly sorted, angular to blocky rock debris and ice. These landforms serve as primary sinks for ice and water storage in mountainous areas and represent transitional forms in the debris transport system, accounting for~60% of all mass transport in some alpine regions. Observations of active (flowing) alpine rock glaciers indicate a common association between the debris that originates from cirque headwalls and the depositional lobes that comprise them. The delivery of this debris to the rock glacier is regulated primarily by the rate of headwall erosion and the point of origin of debris along the headwall. These factors control the relative movement of individual depositional lobes as well as the overall rate of propagation of a rock glacier. In recent geophysical studies, a number of alpine rock glaciers on Prins Karls Forland and Nordenskiöldland, Svalbard, Norway, and the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, USA, have been imaged using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to determine if a relationship exists between the internal structure and surface morphology. Results indicate that the overall morphologic expression of alpine rock glaciers is related to lobate deposition during catastrophic episodes of rockfall that originated from associated cirque headwalls. Longitudinal GPR profiles from alpine rock glaciers examined in this study suggests that the difference in gross morphology between the lobate and tongueshaped rock glaciers can be attributed primarily (but not exclusively) to cirque geometry, frequency and locations of debris discharge within the cirque, and the trend and magnitude of valley gradient in relation to cirque orientation. Collectively, these factors determine the manner in which high magnitude debris discharges, which seem to be the primary mechanism of formation, accumulate to form these rock glaciers.

1] The discovery of rock glacier-like features on Mars suggests the presence of flowing, or once-flowing, ice-rock mixtures. These landforms, which include lobate debris aprons, concentric crater fill, and lineated valley fill, hold... more

1] The discovery of rock glacier-like features on Mars suggests the presence of flowing, or once-flowing, ice-rock mixtures. These landforms, which include lobate debris aprons, concentric crater fill, and lineated valley fill, hold significant promise as reservoirs of stored water ice that could be used as fuel sources for human exploration of Mars and provide a frozen record of the climatic history of the planet. To understand the deformation and distribution of ice within these landforms, fundamental descriptions of their internal structure and development are required. To this end, a ground-penetrating radar investigation was initiated using rock glaciers in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado as surrogates for similar Martian landforms. Results obtained from one of these rock glaciers show that the interior of the landform is composed of a layered permafrost matrix of ice, sediment, and ice lenses that comprise thicker depositional units formed through highmagnitude debris falls. Folds in the uppermost layers correspond to the surface expression of ridges and furrows, suggesting that compressive stresses originating in the accumulation zone are transmitted downslope through the rock glacier. Rock glacier features on Mars may also consist of layered permafrost, which would suggest a history of development involving seasonal frost accumulation and/or water influx from below. In terms of water storage within Martian analogs, consideration must include the possibility that some water ice may be stored in relatively pure form within lenses and vein networks such as observed in the surrogate rock glacier of this study.

Mamy ogromną przyjemność oddać do rąk czytelnika długo oczekiwaną publikację prezentującą opracowania użytkowników licencji SITE oprogramowania ArcGIS na Uniwersytecie Warszawskim. Wspólną i spójną tematyką niniejszego wydania jest... more

Mamy ogromną przyjemność oddać do rąk czytelnika długo oczekiwaną publikację prezentującą opracowania użytkowników licencji SITE oprogramowania ArcGIS na Uniwersytecie Warszawskim. Wspólną i spójną tematyką niniejszego wydania jest wykorzystanie technik Systemów Informacji Przestrzennej (GIS) w różnych dziedzinach: zaczynając od nauk przyrodniczych i kończąc na cyfrowej humanistyce. Niniejsza publikacja, choć nieco w innej odsłonie, stanowi kontynuację pomysłu stworzenia forum wymiany informacji na UW prowadzącego do rozwoju i upowszechniania warsztatu badawczego wykorzystującego narzędzia GIS w różnych dziedzinach nauki. W zamyśle ma zachęcać do propagowania interdyscyplinarności
projektów realizowanych na Uczelni. Pierwszy tom serii, pod redakcją Jerzego Lechnio, powstał w 2015 i nosił tytuł „GIS w UW. Pierwsze forum użytkowników licencji edukacyjnej SITE oprogramowania ArcGIS na Uniwersytecie Warszawskim. Materiały pokonferencyjne„. Stanowił bardzo ciekawą relację z postępów prac studentów i doktorantów, którzy wzięli udział w pierwszej ogólnouniwersyteckiej konferencji Forum Użytkowników Licencji SITE oprogramowania ArcGIS na Uniwersytecie Warszawskim. Konferencja ta, w założeniu jako impreza cykliczna, ostała zainicjowana przez Wydział Geografii i Studiów Regionalnych UW i odbyła się po raz pierwszy 6 lutego 2014 roku. Konwencję „Forum” zaproponował wówczas mgr Jerzy Lechnio i dr Maciej Lenartowicz
Niniejsze wydanie zawiera owoce prac dwóch kolejnych edycji konferencji: drugiej zorganizowanej na Wydziale Geologii UW (w dniu 18 lutego 2015 roku), oraz trzeciej, która odbyła się w Instytucie Archeologii UW (10-12 grudnia 2015 roku). Sprawozdania z wspomnianych konferencji zostały włączone do niniejszego woluminu. Niniejsza publikacja zawiera przede wszystkim artykuły prezentujące wybrane i najciekawsze wystąpienia z dwóch kolejnych konferencji, a stąd zachowuje porządek chronologiczny, czyli podział na tom II i III.
Wspomniane tomy obejmują ogółem dwanaście artykułów. Ich tematyka koncentruje się na takich zagadnieniach, jak: GIS w badaniach środowiskowych, zróżnicowanie tematyczne i rola danych przestrzennych w nauce i praktyce oraz komunikacji społecznej, analiza zdjęć satelitarnych i jej zastosowania, GIS w archeologii i humanistyce. Szerokie spektrum poruszanych tematów i różnorodność zastosowań technik GIS świadczą o dużych kompetencjach i potencjale absolwentów
UW na rynku pracy.
Artykuły poświęcone zastosowaniu metod i technik GIS w ocenie stanu środowiska poruszają problemy istotne z perspektywy Polski, jak i skali globu. Ich zanieczyszczenia wód podziemnych, ewapotranspiracji (parowanie z powierzchni gruntu), analiz przepuszczalność gruntu w miastach, problematyki globalnego ocieplenia, podatność lasów na uszkodzenia silnym wiatrem, czy też procesów urbanizacji.
Przykłady wykorzystania analiz zdjęć satelitarnych obejmują zarówno analizy bazujące na zastosowaniach wysokiej rozdzielczości zobrazowań panchromatycznych CORONA, jak i multispektralnych z misji Landsat i Worldview-2.
Ważnym zagadnieniem poruszanym przez autorów jest kwestia dostępności danych z zasobów publicznych, w tym Centralnej Bazy Danych Geologicznych, bazy otworów geologicznych PITAKA, Corine Land Cover i Urban Atlas. W wspomnianym nurcie mieści się prezentacja projektu udostępniania danych geograficznych w postaci Regionalizacji geomorfologicznej Karpat.
W publikacji znajdziemy, również przykłady zastosowań technologii GIS w dokumentacji archeologicznej, które rozwijane są z powodzeniem w Uniwersytecie Warszawskim.
Prezentowane opracowania obejmują przede wszystkim wyniki prac magisterskich i licencjackich studentów i absolwentów oraz badań bardziej doświadczonych badaczy z UW. Dowodzą dobitnie, że na naszych oczach dokonuje się rewolucja za sprawą szerokiego i multidyscyplinarnego wykorzystania metod i technik GIS oraz danych przestrzennych, która wpływa na pomnażanie wiedzy o otaczającym świecie, a także rozwój nowych pól badawczych w dziedzinie humanistyki, czy dystrybucję informacji w dobie społeczeństwa informacyjnego.
Rangę publikacji podnosi fakt, że wszystkie z prezentowanych artykułów podlegały recenzji naukowej i opracowaniu redakcyjnemu.

Periglacial processes and landforms together with the presence of permafrost are among the most relevant geomorphological elements in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region. Their distribution affects the hydrology and has consequences... more

Periglacial processes and landforms together with the presence of permafrost are among the most relevant geomorphological elements in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region. Their distribution affects the hydrology and has consequences for the ecosystems of the ice-free areas. In this paper a compilation of the different types of periglacial landforms and processes occurring in the South Shetland Islands is carried out and their spatial distribution is analysed. Furthermore, the relationships of the periglacial landforms with local conditions and permafrost distribution have been taken into account. A total of thirty three types of periglacial landforms were identified and considered in this work. Patterned ground and stone fields are the most common periglacial landforms, which are located within a wide altitudinal range and mainly on platforms. Field studies, aerial photograph and satellite imagery interpretation were implemented to produce detailed maps from ten areas with different geological, geomorphological and relief characteristics, including the largest and most relevant ice-free areas within the archipelago, showing the presence and spatial distribution of periglacial landforms. This work shows that the periglacial environment, primarily conditioned by the regional climatic conditions, has a great diversity in the studied region and that the distribution of the periglacial landforms is also related to local relief and geomorphological characteristics, lithology, hydrogeology, and presence of permafrost where altitude plays an important role. Periglacial phenomena are widespread above 10 m a.s.l. and are especially active on slopes and platforms between 30 and 100 m a.s.l. The spatial distribution of periglacial landforms helps to identify the presence of permafrost that is dominant above 25-30 m a.s.l. and more than 70% of the surface is occupied by active layer-related landforms.

1] Six different geophysical investigations, (1) ground-penetrating radar, (2) DC resistivity sounding, (3) seismic refraction, (4) very low frequency (VHF) electromagnetic, (5) helicopter borne electromagnetic (HEM), and (6) transient... more

1] Six different geophysical investigations, (1) ground-penetrating radar, (2) DC resistivity sounding, (3) seismic refraction, (4) very low frequency (VHF) electromagnetic, (5) helicopter borne electromagnetic (HEM), and (6) transient electromagnetic (TEM) techniques, were employed to obtain information on the ice body properties of pingos near Fairbanks, Alaska. The surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data were also compared from similar sites near one of the study pingos. The geophysical investigations were undertaken, along with core sampling and permafrost drilling, to enable measurement of the ground temperature regime. Drilling (ground truthing) results support field geophysical investigations, and have led to the development of a technique for distinguishing massive ice and overburden material of the permafrost. The twodimensional DC resistivity sounding tomography and ground-penetrating radar profiling are useful for ice detection under heterogeneous conditions. However, the DC resistivity sounding investigation required high-quality ground contact and less area coverage. The active layer thickness and the homogeneous horizontal structure of the overburden material are important parameters influencing detection of massive ice in permafrost for most methods such as seismic, TEM, or surface NMR.

The study of the viral component of ancient microbial communities from permafrost is important for the understanding evolution of microbial communities, possibility of their variations due to climate change, changes in the... more

The study of the viral component of ancient microbial communities from permafrost is important for the understanding evolution of microbial communities, possibility of their variations due to climate change, changes in the physical-chemical state of permafrost and practical questions of biosafety. For the first time the virus particles in native samples of ancient ice wedges of the Mammoth Mountain in Siberia have been discovered. Defined morphological diversity of viruses that can be attributed to five main types: miovirus, sifovirus, podovirus, spherical and filamentous. Specific characteristic of these viruses are small size and fever genome. RÉSUMÉ L'étude des virus qui sont présents dans des communautés microbiennes anciennes du pergélisol est cruciale pour la compréhension des questions fondamentales telles que l'évolution des communautés microbiennes, la possibilité de leur changement suite aux changements du climat, de l'état physico-chimique du pergélisol aussi bien que les questions pratiques concernant la sécurité biologique. Les virus ont été découverts pour la première fois dans des glaces éternelles de la montagne Mammouth. La définition de leur diversité morphologique faite, les virus peuvent être classés en cinq types principaux : miovirus, sifovirus, podovirus, virus sphériques et virus filamenteux. Leur spécificité consiste en une petite taille du génome.

Natural-gas hydrates have been encountered beneath the permafrost and considered a nuisance by the oil and gas industry for years. Engineers working in Russia, Canada and the U.S have documented numerous drilling problems, including kicks... more

Natural-gas hydrates have been encountered beneath the permafrost and considered a nuisance by the oil and gas industry for years. Engineers working in Russia, Canada and the U.S have documented numerous drilling problems, including kicks and uncontrolled gas releases, in arctic regions. Information has been generated in laboratory studies pertaining to the extent, volume, chemistry and phase behavior of gas hydrates. Scientists studying hydrate potential agree that the potential is great -on the North Slope of Alaska alone, it has been estimated at 590 TCF. However, little information has been obtained on physical samples taken from actual rock containing hydrates.

The Arctic has undergone dramatic change during the past decade. The observed changes include atmospheric sea-level pressure, wind fields, sea-ice drift, ice cover, length of melt season, change in precipitation patterns, change in... more

The Arctic has undergone dramatic change during the past decade. The observed changes include atmospheric sea-level pressure, wind fields, sea-ice drift, ice cover, length of melt season, change in precipitation patterns, change in hydrology and change in ocean currents and watermass distribution. It is likely that these primary changes have altered the carbon cycle and biological systems, but the difficulty of observing these together with sporadic, incomplete time series makes it difficult to evaluate what the changes have been. Because contaminants enter global systems and transport through air and water, the changes listed above will clearly alter contaminant pathways. Here, we review what is known about recent changes using the Arctic Oscillation as a proxy to help us understand the forms under which global change will be manifest in the Arctic. For Pb, Cd and Zn, the Arctic is likely to become a more effective trap because precipitation is likely to increase. In the case of Cd, the natural cycle in the ocean appears to have a much greater potential to alter exposure than do human releases of this metal. Mercury has an especially complex cycle in the Arctic including a unique scavenging process (mercury depletion events), biomagnifying foodwebs, and chemical transformations such as methylation. The observation that mercury seems to be increasing in a number of aquatic species whereas atmospheric gaseous mercury shows little sign of change suggests that factors related to change in the physical system (ice cover, permafrost degradation, organic carbon cycling) may be more important than human activities.

Relict sand-wedge polygons are described from palaeosol and gravel deposits in the Mogyoród area, Hungary. Based on previously reported periglacial features, the local glacial history and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates,... more

Relict sand-wedge polygons are described from palaeosol and gravel deposits in the Mogyoród area, Hungary. Based on previously reported periglacial features, the local glacial history and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates, these features suggest that the Pannonian Basin was underlain by permafrost during the Late Pleniglacial (22 000-18 000 years ago) and that the permafrost may have been continuous.

This paper discusses the Holocene evolution of two sites in the Central Italian Alps, the Foscagno Valley and the Stelvio–Livrio area, in terms of the interaction between permafrost distribution and glacial history. The applicability of... more

This paper discusses the Holocene evolution of two sites in the Central Italian Alps, the Foscagno Valley and the Stelvio–Livrio area, in terms of the interaction between permafrost distribution and glacial history. The applicability of phytosociological vegetation survey to investigate recent glacial evolution where geomorphological evidence is poor or totally absent is also illustrated. Bottom temperature of snow measurements and detailed geomorphologic survey and air-photo interpretation were carried out in the Stelvio–Livrio area. Boreholes were drilled in each site, one (24 m deep) in the Foscagno rock glacier (2510 m ASL), the second (100.3 m deep) in dolostone-limestone bedrock at the Stelvio Pass (3000 m ASL). The latter borehole is a component of the PACE European Permafrost Monitoring Network. In Foscagno Valley, the formation of permafrost during a cold and dry phase of the Holocene allowed the preservation of an ice body which otherwise would have disappeared. More recently, a Little Ice Age glacier advance, whose exact location and extension were defined by means of the analysis of vegetal associations, induced some degradation in the permafrost. In the Stelvio–Livrio area, a cold-based glacier apparently had much less influence on the local permafrost evolution and thermal regime. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This paper discusses the Holocene evolution of two sites in the Central Italian Alps, the Foscagno Valley and the Stelvio–Livrio area, in terms of the interaction between permafrost distribution and glacial history. The applicability of phytosociological vegetation survey to investigate recent glacial evolution where geomorphological evidence is poor or totally absent is also illustrated. Bottom temperature of snow measurements and detailed geomorphologic survey and air-photo interpretation were carried out in the Stelvio–Livrio area. Boreholes were drilled in each site, one (24 m deep) in the Foscagno rock glacier (2510 m ASL), the second (100.3 m deep) in dolostone-limestone bedrock at the Stelvio Pass (3000 m ASL). The latter borehole is a component of the PACE European Permafrost Monitoring Network. In Foscagno Valley, the formation of permafrost during a cold and dry phase of the Holocene allowed the preservation of an ice body which otherwise would have disappeared. More recently, a Little Ice Age glacier advance, whose exact location and extension were defined by means of the analysis of vegetal associations, induced some degradation in the permafrost. In the Stelvio–Livrio area, a cold-based glacier apparently had much less influence on the local permafrost evolution and thermal regime. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.RÉSUMÉL'évolution holocène de deux sites des Alpes centrales italiennes, la vallée de Foscagno et la région de Stelvio-Livrio, est discutée pour contribuer à la compréhension des relations entre la distribution du pergélisol et l'histoire glaciaire. Un autre but de l'étude était de vérifier la possibilité d'utiliser des relevés phytosociologiques pour comprendre l 'évolution récente glaciaire de zones où des évidences géomorphologiques sont maigres ou totalement absentes et de mieux comprendre ainsi la distribution du pergélisol. Des mesures BTS, des levés géomorphologiques détaillés et des interprétations de photos aériennes de la zone Stelvio-Livrio ont été réalisés. Enfin, deux sondages ont été implantés : l'un (24 m de profondeur) dans le glacier rocheux de Foscagno (2510 m) et l'autre dans le substratum rocheux (100.3 m de profondeur) du Col du Stelvio (3000 m). Ce dernier sondage fait partie du réseau européen PACE de surveillance du pergélisol. Des levés phytosociologiques ont été réalisés dans les deux zones. Dans la vallée de Foscagno, la formation du pergélisol pendant une phase froide et aride de l'Holocène a permis la conservation d'un corps de glace qui, autrement, aurait disparu. Plus récemment, une avancée glaciaire pendant le Petit Age Glaciaire (dont la localisation et l'exacte extension ont été reconnues par les études phytosociologiques) a provoqué la dégradation du pergélisol. Dans la zone de Stelvio-Livrio, un glacier à base froide a apparemment beaucoup moins influencé la distribution du pergélisol et son régime thermique. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.L'évolution holocène de deux sites des Alpes centrales italiennes, la vallée de Foscagno et la région de Stelvio-Livrio, est discutée pour contribuer à la compréhension des relations entre la distribution du pergélisol et l'histoire glaciaire. Un autre but de l'étude était de vérifier la possibilité d'utiliser des relevés phytosociologiques pour comprendre l 'évolution récente glaciaire de zones où des évidences géomorphologiques sont maigres ou totalement absentes et de mieux comprendre ainsi la distribution du pergélisol. Des mesures BTS, des levés géomorphologiques détaillés et des interprétations de photos aériennes de la zone Stelvio-Livrio ont été réalisés. Enfin, deux sondages ont été implantés : l'un (24 m de profondeur) dans le glacier rocheux de Foscagno (2510 m) et l'autre dans le substratum rocheux (100.3 m de profondeur) du Col du Stelvio (3000 m). Ce dernier sondage fait partie du réseau européen PACE de surveillance du pergélisol. Des levés phytosociologiques ont été réalisés dans les deux zones. Dans la vallée de Foscagno, la formation du pergélisol pendant une phase froide et aride de l'Holocène a permis la conservation d'un corps de glace qui, autrement, aurait disparu. Plus récemment, une avancée glaciaire pendant le Petit Age Glaciaire (dont la localisation et l'exacte extension ont été reconnues par les études phytosociologiques) a provoqué la dégradation du pergélisol. Dans la zone de Stelvio-Livrio, un glacier à base froide a apparemment beaucoup moins influencé la distribution du pergélisol et son régime thermique. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The frozen tombs of the Scythian civilization, preserved for over 2000 years in the permafrost of the Russian, Mongolian, Chinese and Kazakh Altai Mountains, are a major archaeological find dating back to the 1920s. Inside the tombs lie... more

The frozen tombs of the Scythian civilization, preserved for over 2000 years in the permafrost of the Russian, Mongolian, Chinese and Kazakh Altai Mountains, are a major archaeological find dating back to the 1920s. Inside the tombs lie bodies which have often been so well preserved in the frozen ground that even the tattoos on their skin remain intact. Grave robbers and fortune hunters have been the tombs' traditional enemies but, today, a new threat hangs over them. Climatic change is causing the permafrost in this part of Siberia to thaw. With the permafrost that preserves the kurgans now gradually thawing, the remaining frozen tombs and the insights they provide into the ancient nomad Scythian culture could be lost for ever, after 2000 years of perfect conservation. The University of Ghent (Belgium) and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, together with local institutions in Russia and Kazakhstan, have started a project to preserve the remaining frozen tombs. Besides making an inventory of the archaeological heritage in several research areas in Russia and Kazakhstan, they are looking for ways to detect the tombs that are frozen, and are searching for technical solutions to preserve the frozen tombs in situ.

In geology, permafrost or permafrost soil is soil at or below the freezing point of water (0 °C or 32 °F) for two or more years. Ice is not always present, as may be in the case of nonporous bedrock, but it frequently occurs and it may be... more

In geology, permafrost or permafrost soil is soil at or below the freezing point of water (0 °C or 32 °F) for two or more years. Ice is not always present, as may be in the case of nonporous bedrock, but it frequently occurs and it may be in amounts exceeding the potential hydraulic saturation of the ground material. Most permafrost is located in high latitudes (i.e. land in close proximity to the North and South poles), but alpine permafrost may exist at high altitudes in much lower latitudes. The extent of permafrost can vary as the climate changes. Today, approximately 20% of the Earth's land mass is covered by permafrost (including discontinuous permafrost) or glacial ice. A glacier is a large, slow-moving mass of ice, formed from compacted layers of snow, that slowly deforms and flows in response to gravity and high pressure. The word glacier comes from French via the Vulgar Latin glacia, and ultimately from Latin glacies meaning ice.

Within the framework of core-drilling through the permafrost of the active rock glacier Murtèl–Corvatsch in the Swiss Alps, subfossil stem remains of seven different bryophyte species were found at a depth of 6 m below surface and about 3... more

Within the framework of core-drilling through the permafrost of the active rock glacier Murtèl–Corvatsch in the Swiss Alps, subfossil stem remains of seven different bryophyte species were found at a depth of 6 m below surface and about 3 m below the permafrost table in samples from massive ice. The composition of the moss species points to the former growth of the recovered mosses in the nearest surroundings of the drill site. A total of 127 pollen and spores captured by the mosses and representing 23 taxa were determined. The local vegetation during deposition time must be characterized as a moss-rich alpine grassland meadow rich in Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Asteraceae, comparable to today’s flora present around the study site. Forl4C analysis, accelerator mass spectrometry had to be used due to the small sample mass (about 0.5 mg Carbon content). The mean conventional14C age of 2250 ± 100 years (1σvariability) corresponds to ranges in the calibrated calendar age of ...

Late Permian (early Tatarian, 258 Ma) palaeosols exposed near Kiama and Dapto on the south coast of New South Wales can be recognised from their red colour, clayey and massive texture, and clayfilled root traces. Harvey pedotype... more

Late Permian (early Tatarian, 258 Ma) palaeosols exposed near Kiama and Dapto on the south coast of New South Wales can be recognised from their red colour, clayey and massive texture, and clayfilled root traces. Harvey pedotype palaeosols are within the upper Jamberoo Sandstone Member of the Broughton Formation. Loveleigh pedotype palaeosols are within the basal Kiama Sandstone overlying columnar jointed flows of the Blow Hole Latite Member of the Broughton Formation. Both kinds of palaeosols are strongly ferruginised with little relict bedding, yet they are little weathered and have surprisingly high amounts of feldspar and pyroxene. Both also show deformation of subsurface layers comparable to the active layer of permafrosted soils. Root traces in these palaeosols are sparse and comparable to those of woody gymnosperms, not chambered like the known roots of Glossopteris. Plausible components of the taiga woodland represented by the palaeosols include Gangamopteris, cordaites, seed ferns, and equisetaleans. Frigid palaeoclimatic indications from the palaeosols are compatible with a palaeomagnetically determined palaeolatitude of 57-85°S, and thus indicate an equator-pole climatic gradient in the Late Permian generally similar to that of today.

Arctic coastal infrastructure and cultural and archeological sites are increasingly vulnerable to erosion and flooding due to amplified warming of the Arctic, sea level rise, lengthening of open water periods, and a predicted increase in... more

Arctic coastal infrastructure and cultural and archeological sites are increasingly vulnerable to erosion and flooding due to amplified warming of the Arctic, sea level rise, lengthening of open water periods, and a predicted increase in frequency of major storms. Mitigating these hazards necessitates decision-making tools at an appropriate scale. The objectives of this paper are to provide such a tool by assessing potential erosion and flood hazards at Herschel Island, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate site. This study focused on Simpson Point and the adjacent coastal sections because of their archeological, historical, and cultural significance. Shoreline movement was analyzed using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) after digitizing shorelines from 1952, 1970, 2000, and 2011. For purposes of this analysis, the coast was divided in seven coastal reaches (CRs) reflecting different morphologies and/or exposures. Using linear regression rates obtained from these data, projections of shoreline position were made for 20 and 50 years into the future. Flood hazard was assessed using a least cost path analysis based on a high-resolution light detection and ranging (LiDAR) dataset and current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sea level estimates. Widespread erosion characterizes the study area. The rate of shoreline movement in different periods of the study ranges from −5.5 to 2.7 m·a−1 (mean −0.6 m·a−1). Mean coastal retreat decreased from −0.6 m·a−1 to −0.5 m·a−1, for 1952–1970 and 1970–2000, respectively, and increased to −1.3 m·a−1 in the period 2000–2011. Ice-rich coastal sections most exposed to wave attack exhibited the highest rates of coastal retreat. The geohazard map combines shoreline projections and flood hazard analyses to show that most of the spit area has extreme or very high flood hazard potential, and some buildings are vulnerable to coastal erosion. This study demonstrates that transgressive forcing may provide ample sediment for the expansion of depositional landforms, while growing more susceptible to overwash and flooding.

We develop a permafrost classification system to describe the complex interaction of climatic and ecological processes in permafrost formation and degradation that differentiates five patterns of formation: 'climate-driven';... more

We develop a permafrost classification system to describe the complex interaction of climatic and ecological processes in permafrost formation and degradation that differentiates five patterns of formation: 'climate-driven'; 'climate-driven, ecosystem-modified'; 'climate-driven, ecosystemprotected'; 'ecosystem-driven'; and 'ecosystem-protected' permafrost. Climate-driven permafrost develops in the continuous permafrost zone, where permafrost forms immediately after the surface is exposed to the atmosphere and even under shallow water. Climate-driven, ecosystem-modified permafrost occurs in the continuous permafrost zone when vegetation succession and organic-matter accumulation lead to development of an ice-rich layer at the top of the permafrost. During warming climates, permafrost that has formed as climate-driven can occur in the discontinuous permafrost zone, where it can persist for a long time as ecosystem-protected. Climate-driven, ecosystem protected permafrost, and its associated ground ice, cannot re-establish in the discontinuous zone once degraded, although the near surface can recover as ecosystem-driven permafrost. Ecosystem-driven permafrost forms in the discontinuous permafrost zone in poorly drained, low-lying and north-facing landscape conditions, and under strong ecosystem influence. Finally, ecosystem-protected permafrost persists as sporadic patches under warmer climates, but cannot be re-established after disturbance. These distinctions are important because the various types react differently to climate change and surface disturbances. For example, climate-driven, ecosystem-modified permafrost can experience thermokarst even under cold conditions because of its ice-rich layer formed during ecosystem development, and ecosystem-driven permafrost is unlikely to recover after disturbance, such as fire, if there is sufficient climate warming.