Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost System
Abstract Climate change is causing rapid changes of Arctic ecosystems. Yet, data needed to unravel complex subsurface processes are very rare. Using geophysical and in situ sensing, this study closes an observational gap associated with thermohydrological dynamics in discontinuous permafrost systems...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091149 |
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| author | S. Uhlemann B. Dafflon J. Peterson C. Ulrich I. Shirley S. Michail S. S. Hubbard |
| author_facet | S. Uhlemann B. Dafflon J. Peterson C. Ulrich I. Shirley S. Michail S. S. Hubbard |
| author_sort | S. Uhlemann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Climate change is causing rapid changes of Arctic ecosystems. Yet, data needed to unravel complex subsurface processes are very rare. Using geophysical and in situ sensing, this study closes an observational gap associated with thermohydrological dynamics in discontinuous permafrost systems. It highlights the impact of vegetation and snow thickness distribution on subsurface thermohydrological properties and processes. Large snow accumulation near tall shrubs insulates the ground and allows for rapid and downward heat flow. Thinner snow pack above graminoid results in surficial freezing and prevents water from infiltrating into the subsurface. Analyzing short‐term disturbances, we found that lateral flow could be a driving factor in talik formation. Interannual measurements show that deep permafrost temperatures increased by about 0.2°C over 2 years. The results, which suggest that snow‐vegetation‐subsurface processes are tightly coupled, will be useful for improving predictions of Arctic feedback to climate change, including how subsurface thermohydrology influences CO2 and CH4 fluxes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ca0a94b0ea2748a596b7c3440efe1c51 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-ca0a94b0ea2748a596b7c3440efe1c512025-08-20T01:48:15ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072021-03-01486n/an/a10.1029/2020GL091149Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost SystemS. Uhlemann0B. Dafflon1J. Peterson2C. Ulrich3I. Shirley4S. Michail5S. S. Hubbard6Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Earth and Environmental Sciences Area Berkeley CA USALawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Earth and Environmental Sciences Area Berkeley CA USALawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Earth and Environmental Sciences Area Berkeley CA USALawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Earth and Environmental Sciences Area Berkeley CA USALawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Earth and Environmental Sciences Area Berkeley CA USAETH Zurich Institute of Geophysics Zurich SwitzerlandLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Earth and Environmental Sciences Area Berkeley CA USAAbstract Climate change is causing rapid changes of Arctic ecosystems. Yet, data needed to unravel complex subsurface processes are very rare. Using geophysical and in situ sensing, this study closes an observational gap associated with thermohydrological dynamics in discontinuous permafrost systems. It highlights the impact of vegetation and snow thickness distribution on subsurface thermohydrological properties and processes. Large snow accumulation near tall shrubs insulates the ground and allows for rapid and downward heat flow. Thinner snow pack above graminoid results in surficial freezing and prevents water from infiltrating into the subsurface. Analyzing short‐term disturbances, we found that lateral flow could be a driving factor in talik formation. Interannual measurements show that deep permafrost temperatures increased by about 0.2°C over 2 years. The results, which suggest that snow‐vegetation‐subsurface processes are tightly coupled, will be useful for improving predictions of Arctic feedback to climate change, including how subsurface thermohydrology influences CO2 and CH4 fluxes.https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091149geophysical monitoringpermafrostthermohydrological processes |
| spellingShingle | S. Uhlemann B. Dafflon J. Peterson C. Ulrich I. Shirley S. Michail S. S. Hubbard Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost System Geophysical Research Letters geophysical monitoring permafrost thermohydrological processes |
| title | Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost System |
| title_full | Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost System |
| title_fullStr | Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost System |
| title_short | Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost System |
| title_sort | geophysical monitoring shows that spatial heterogeneity in thermohydrological dynamics reshapes a transitional permafrost system |
| topic | geophysical monitoring permafrost thermohydrological processes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091149 |
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