scholarly journals Holocene climate change, permafrost, and cryogenic carbonate formation: insights from a recently deglaciated, high-elevation cave in the Austrian Alps

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1493-1526
Author(s):  
C. Spötl ◽  
H. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Structure ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
New Class ◽  
Austrian Alps ◽  
Carbonate Formation ◽  
Discontinuous Permafrost ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Important Time ◽  
Permafrost Thawing

Abstract. Cryogenically formed carbonate particles represent a rather new class of speleothems whose origin is directly linked to the presence of perennial ice in the subsurface. Recent studies concluded that dating these deposits provides important time constraints on the presence and the thickness of permafrost e.g. during the last glacial period. More precisely, these carbonates require the coexistence of water and ice and hence record episodes of permafrost thawing. To shed more light on the origin of the coarsely crystalline variety of these cryogenic cave carbonates – CCCcoarse for short – we examined a high-elevation cave site in the western part of the Austrian Alps which is located in an area dominated by permafrost features and transformed from an ice cave into an essentially ice-free cave during the past decade. Two side chambers of the main gallery revealed cryogenic calcite deposits whose isotopic composition indicates that they formed in individual pools of water carved in ice which underwent very slow freezing under closed-system conditions, i.e. enclosed in ice. 230Th dating shows that most of these carbonates formed ca. 2600 yr BP. Based on comparisons with other palaeoclimate archives in the Alps this thawing episode did not occur during a climate optimum, nor did CCCcoarse form in this cave during e.g. the Roman or the Medieval Warm Periods. Our results suggest that the occurrence of CCCcoarse, at least in mountain regions characterized by discontinuous permafrost, may be more stochastic than previously thought. Given the inherent heterogeneity of karst aquifers and the important role of localized water infiltration in modifying the thermal structure of the subsurface we caution against attributing CCCcoarse occurrences solely to peak warming conditions, while confirming the unique significance of these deposits in providing robust age constraints on permafrost thawing episodes.

scholarly journals Holocene climate change, permafrost and cryogenic carbonate formation: insights from a recently deglaciated, high-elevation cave in the Austrian Alps

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1349-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Spötl ◽  
H. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Structure ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Karst Water ◽  
New Class ◽  
Austrian Alps ◽  
Carbonate Formation ◽  
Discontinuous Permafrost ◽  
Important Time ◽  
Permafrost Thawing

Abstract. Cryogenically formed carbonate particles represent a rather new class of speleothems whose origin is directly linked to the presence of perennial ice in the subsurface. Recent studies concluded that dating these deposits provides important time constraints on the presence and the thickness of permafrost, e.g., during the last glacial period. More precisely, these carbonates record episodes of progressive karst water freezing. Such conditions have been associated with periods of permafrost thawing allowing the infiltration of meltwater into formerly dry, frozen caves. To shed more light on the origin of the coarsely crystalline variety of these cryogenic cave carbonates – CCCcoarse for short – we examined a high-elevation cave site in the western part of the Austrian Alps which is located in an area dominated by permafrost features and transformed from an ice cave into an essentially ice-free cave during the past decade. Two side chambers of the main gallery revealed cryogenic calcite deposits whose isotopic composition indicates that they formed in individual pools of water carved in ice which underwent very slow freezing under closed-system conditions, i.e., enclosed in ice. 230Th dating shows that most of these carbonates formed ca. 2600 yr BP. Based on comparisons with other palaeoclimate archives in the Alps this thawing episode did not occur during a climate optimum, nor did CCCcoarse form in this cave during, e.g., the Roman or the Medieval Warm Periods. Our results suggest that the occurrence of CCCcoarse, at least in mountain regions characterized by discontinuous permafrost, may be more stochastic than previously thought. Given the inherent heterogeneity of karst aquifers and the important role of localized water infiltration in modifying the thermal structure of the subsurface, we caution against attributing CCCcoarse occurrences solely to peak warming conditions, while confirming the unique significance of these deposits in providing robust age constraints on permafrost thawing episodes.

scholarly journals Dialektik der Erschließung: The German–Austrian Alps between Exploration and Exploitation

Humanities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Sean Ireton
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Environmental History ◽  
Travel Narratives ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Exploration And Exploitation ◽  
Nördliche Kalkalpen ◽  
Austrian Alps ◽  
Limestone Alps ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Alps

Focusing on the so-called Nördliche Kalkalpen or Northern Limestone Alps of Germany and Austria, I will discuss how human interaction with these mountains during the age of the Anthropocene shifts from scientific and athletic exploration to commercial and industrial exploitation. More specifically, I will examine travel narratives by the nineteenth-century mountaineers Friedrich Simony and Hermann von Barth, juxtaposing their respective experiences in diverse Alpine subranges with the environmental history of those regions. This juxtaposition harbors a deeper paradox, one that can be formulated as follows: Whereas Simony and Barth both rank as historically important Erschließer of the German and Austrian Alps, having explored their crags and glaciers in search of somatic adventure and geoscientific knowledge, these very sites of rock and ice were about to become so erschlossen by modernized tourism that one wonders where the precise boundaries between individual-based discovery and technology-driven development lie. In other words, during the nineteenth century a kind of Dialektik der Erschließung (a variation on Horkheimer and Adorno’s Dialektik der Aufklärung) manifests itself in the increasing anthropogenic alteration of the Alps.

Cryogenic cave carbonate formation during the Industrial Era in the Central Pyrenees (Iberian Peninsula)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Bartolomé ◽  
Ana Moreno ◽  
Marc Luetscher ◽  
Christoph Spötl ◽  
Maria Leunda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spring Water ◽  
Ice Formation ◽  
Cumulative Probability ◽  
Temperature Record ◽  
Permafrost Degradation ◽  
The North ◽  
Carbonate Formation ◽  
Discontinuous Permafrost ◽  
Ice Retreat ◽  
Instrumental Temperature

<p>Cryogenic cave carbonates (CCC) are rare speleothems that form when water freezes inside cave ice bodies. CCC have been used as an proxy for permafrost degradation, permafrost thickness, or subsurface ice formation. The presence of these minerals is usually attributed to warm periods of permafrost degradation. We found coarse crystalline CCC types within transparent, massive congelation ice in two Pyrenean ice caves in the Monte Perido Massif: Devaux, located on the north face at 2828 m a.s.l., and Sarrios 6, located in the south face at 2780 m a.s.l. The external mean annual air temperature (MAAT) at Devaux is ~ 0°C, while at Sarrios 6 is ~ 2.5°C. In the Monte Perdido massif discontinuous permafrost is currently present between 2750 and 2900 m a.s.l. and is more frequent above 2900 m a.s.l. in northern faces. In Devaux, air and rock temperatures, as well as the presence of hoarfrost and the absence of drip sites indicate a frozen host rock. Moreover, a river flows along the main gallery, and during winters the water freezes at the spring causing backflooding in the cave. In contrast, Sarrios 6 has several drip sites, although the gallery where CCC were collected is hydrologically inactive. This gallery opened in recent years due to ice retreat. During spring, water is present in the gallery due to the overflow of ponds forming beneath drips. CCC commonly formed as sub-millimeter-size spherulites, rhombohedrons and rafts. <sup>230</sup>Th ages of the same CCC morphotype indicate that their formation took place at 1953±7, 1959±14, 1957±14, 1958±15, 1974±16 CE in Devaux, while in Sarrios 6 they formed at 1964±5, 1992±2, 1996±1 CE. The cumulative probability density function indicates that the most probable formation occurred 1957-1965 and 1992-1997. The instrumental temperature record at 2860 m a.s.l. indicates positive MAAT in 1964 (0.2°C) and 1997 (0.8°C). CCC formation could thus correspond with those two anomalously warm years. The massive and transparent ice would indicate a sudden ingress of water and subsequent slow freezing inside both caves during those years. Probably, CCC formation took place at a seasonal scale during the annual cycle.</p>

scholarly journals Environmental factors as drivers for macroinvertebrate and diatom diversity in Alpine lakes: New insights from the Stelvio National Park (Italy)

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Boggero ◽  
Silvia Zaupa ◽  
Simona Musazzi ◽  
Michela Rogora ◽  
Elzbieta Dumnicka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
National Park ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Alpine Lakes ◽  
High Altitude Lakes ◽  
The Alps

Information on the biodiversity of high altitude lakes in the Stelvio National Park was scarce and fragmentary, in most cases limited to a few studies on a single biological issue. To fill this gap, a multidisciplinary research program was established in 2011 to investigate macroinvertebrates, diatoms, and water chemistry in 8 high altitude lakes within the boundaries of the Park (Rhaetian Alps, Eastern Alps). The results of this study were compared with data on biological assemblages and chemical parameters of Alpine lakes in the Pennine-Lepontine Alps (Western Alps), to evaluate the role of local drivers with respect to regional ones. This comparison was possible thanks to the adoption of standardized sampling methodologies developed since the ’90s by the National Research Council-Water Research Institute (Verbania), in collaboration with several European Research centers. Despite located in a restricted geographical area, the lakes of the Stelvio National Park showed a high variability of chemical composition, and of sensitivity to acidification, lower than that of the Pennine-Lepontine Alpine lakes. Macroinvertebrate and diatom taxa were ubiquitous and frequent along the Alps, and mainly represented by cold-stenothermal species. Richness, Shannon, Simpson, and Pielou indices applied to phyto- and zoobenthos highlighted significantly lower values in Stelvio National Park lakes than in those of Pennine-Lepontine for macroinvertebrates, while no significant differences were found for diatoms. Two groups of lakes were identified by Cluster Analysis, mainly on the basis of major ion concentrations. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that the macroinvertebrate assemblage of the lakes studied is driven mainly by altitude and lake surface, and, to a lesser extent, by nutrient content. On the contrary, pH and acid-related variables played a secondary role for diatoms, while nutrients and, more in general, ionic content had significant effects on their species composition. Overall, the results of this first investigation showed that the high elevation of these lakes affects their macroinvertebrate assemblages, while their diatom communities are comparable throughout the Alps.

scholarly journals Climate change will increase the potential conflict between skiing and high-elevation bird species in the Alps

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (11) ◽  
pp. 2299-2309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Brambilla ◽  
Paolo Pedrini ◽  
Antonio Rolando ◽  
Dan E. Chamberlain
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Potential Conflict ◽  
The Alps

Climate and ground temperature relations at sites across the continuous and discontinuous permafrost zones, northern Canada1This article is one of a series of papers published in this CJES Special Issue on the theme of Fundamental and applied research on permafrost in Canada.2Earth Science Sector (ESS) Contribution 20110128.

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 865-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Throop ◽  
Antoni G. Lewkowicz ◽  
Sharon L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Active Layer ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Ground Temperature ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Discontinuous Permafrost ◽  
Heat Effects ◽  
Ice Content

Climate – ground temperature relations are examined under a range of conditions for 10 sites across northern Canada. The sites are located between 60°N and 83°N and at elevations of 40 to 1840 m above sea level. They encompass various environmental and climatic conditions, with permafrost temperatures that range from just below 0 to –15 °C. The substrates range from bedrock to fine-grained sediment with high ice content, and vegetation types include coniferous forests in the Mackenzie Valley, shrub tundra at high elevation in the southern Yukon Territory, and polar desert in the High Arctic. Permafrost conditions at all of these sites are determined primarily by air temperature, followed by snow and substrate conditions. The apparent thermal diffusivity is relatively high at colder sites and in bedrock and is lower at sites in sediment with high ice content. Snow has a greater influence on air–ground temperature relations at sites where mean annual air temperatures and active-layer moisture contents are relatively high, leading to physically significant latent heat effects and a slower freeze-back of the active layer.

scholarly journals Swiss Stone Pine Provenance Experiment in Romania: II Variation in Growth and Branching Traits to Age 14

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 148-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Blada ◽  
F. Popescu
Keyword(s):  
High Elevation ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Stone Pine ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Seed Transfer ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Swiss Stone Pine ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Collar Diameter

Summary After the nursery testing, twelve Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) provenances from the Alps and Carpathian Mountains were planted out at two sites located at high elevation in the Southern and Northern Carpathians. Total height growth (H), annual height growth (h), root collar diameter (RCD), branches per whorl (BW) and survival (SV) were measured and analyzed. Analysis of variance showed highly significant (p < 0.01; p < 0.001) differences between provenances for all traits, except survival, suggesting that selection at the provenance level could be possible. Also, over locations analysis revealed significant genotype x environment interaction, demonstrating that some provenances react differently to environmental conditions and, selection should take this into account. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was moderate for growth and high for number of branches per whorl suggesting that selection within provenance can also be applied. Finding of significant and highly significant age-age and trait-trait phenotypic correlations indicated that early and indirect selection in Swiss stone pine species is possible. According to DUNCAN’s multiple range test the best performing provenances of the two mountain ranges were selected for operational planting and breeding programmes. The results of this study validate that a very slow growing species, such as Swiss stone pine may still possess very high genetic variation in growth rate; consequently, this trait can be improved. Finally, an attempt has been made to develop a seed transfer guidelines for the species by using the pattern of geographic variation as a basis.

Comparative life histories of a low- and a high-elevation population of the common frog Rana temporaria

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Ryser
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Life History Pattern ◽  
Frog Rana Temporaria ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Breeding Pond ◽  
The Common

AbstractCommon frogs from a breeding pond in the Swiss Alps (1930 m) were studied by skeletochronology and life history traits were compared to a previously described lowland population. Snout-vent lengths ranged from 63 to 85 mm (males) and 65 to 94 mm (females). Ages varied from 4 to 13 years with means of 6.6 (males) and 8.3 years (females). Growth of immature frogs was slow. Immature males grew faster than females, but the reverse was true for adult frogs. Egg numbers ranged from 784 to 1616 and were not correlated with snout-vent length. Egg diameters (1.83-2.19 mm) were positively correlated with snout-vent length. Frogs from the Alps differed from the lowland population in slower growth to maturation, resulting in higher ages, but similar sizes, at first reproduction. I argue that the alpine life history pattern was shaped by two environmentally determined traits, slow growth and high annual survival.

scholarly journals Discovery of cryptic plant diversity on the rooftops of the Alps

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian C. Boucher ◽  
Cédric Dentant ◽  
Sébastien Ibanez ◽  
Thibaut Capblancq ◽  
Martí Boleda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Novel Species ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Pleistocene Glaciations ◽  
High Mountains ◽  
Population Genomic ◽  
Speciation Rates ◽  
Combined Action ◽  
The Alps

AbstractHigh elevation temperate mountains have long been considered species poor owing to high extinction or low speciation rates during the Pleistocene. We performed a phylogenetic and population genomic investigation of an emblematic high-elevation plant clade (Androsace sect. Aretia, 31 currently recognized species), based on plant surveys conducted during alpinism expeditions. We inferred that this clade originated in the Miocene and continued diversifying through Pleistocene glaciations, and discovered three novel species of Androsace dwelling on different bedrock types on the rooftops of the Alps. This highlights that temperate high mountains have been cradles of plant diversity even during the Pleistocene, with in-situ speciation driven by the combined action of geography and geology. Our findings have an unexpected historical relevance: H.-B. de Saussure likely observed one of these species during his 1788 expedition to the Mont Blanc and we describe it here, over two hundred years after its first sighting.

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