scholarly journals Seasonal thaw settlement at drained thermokarst lake basins, Arctic Alaska

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 815-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Liu ◽  
K. Schaefer ◽  
A. Gusmeroli ◽  
G. Grosse ◽  
B. M. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Active Layer Thickness ◽  
Surface Dynamics ◽  
Thermokarst Lake ◽  
The North ◽  
Arctic Alaska ◽  
North Slope Of Alaska ◽  
Thaw Settlement ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Lake Basins

Abstract. Drained thermokarst lake basins (DTLBs) are ubiquitous landforms on Arctic tundra lowland. Their dynamic states are seldom investigated, despite their importance for landscape stability, hydrology, nutrient fluxes, and carbon cycling. Here we report results based on high-resolution Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measurements using space-borne data for a study area located on the North Slope of Alaska near Prudhoe Bay, where we focus on the seasonal thaw settlement within DTLBs, averaged between 2006 and 2010. The majority (14) of the 18 DTLBs in the study area exhibited seasonal thaw settlement of 3–4 cm. However, four of the DTLBs examined exceeded 4 cm of thaw settlement, with one basin experiencing up to 12 cm. Combining the InSAR observations with the in situ active layer thickness measured using ground penetrating radar and mechanical probing, we calculated thaw strain, an index of thaw settlement strength along a transect across the basin that underwent large thaw settlement. We found thaw strains of 10–35% at the basin center, suggesting the seasonal melting of ground ice as a possible mechanism for the large settlement. These findings emphasize the dynamic nature of permafrost landforms, demonstrate the capability of the InSAR technique to remotely monitor surface deformation of individual DTLBs, and illustrate the combination of ground-based and remote sensing observations to estimate thaw strain. Our study highlights the need for better description of the spatial heterogeneity of landscape-scale processes for regional assessment of surface dynamics on Arctic coastal lowlands.

scholarly journals Seasonal thaw settlement at drained thermokarst lake basins, Arctic Alaska

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 5793-5822
Author(s):  
L. Liu ◽  
K. Schaefer ◽  
A. Gusmeroli ◽  
G. Grosse ◽  
B. M. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Active Layer Thickness ◽  
Surface Dynamics ◽  
Thermokarst Lake ◽  
Arctic Alaska ◽  
Thaw Settlement ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Prudhoe Bay ◽  
Lake Basins

Abstract. Drained thermokarst lake basins (DTLBs) are ubiquitous landforms on arctic tundra lowlands, but their present-day dynamic states are seldom investigated. Here we report results based on high-resolution Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measurements using space-borne data for a study area located near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska where we focus on the seasonal thaw settlement within DTLBs, averaged between 2006 and 2010. The majority (14) of the 18 DTLBs in the study area analyzed exhibited seasonal thaw settlement of 3–4 cm. However, four of the DTLBs analyzed exceeded 4 cm of thaw settlement, with one basin experiencing up to 12 cm. Combining the InSAR observations with the in situ active layer thickness measured using ground penetrating radar and mechanical probing, we calculated thaw strain, an index of thaw settlement strength along a transect across the basin that underwent large thaw settlement. We found thaw strains of 10–35% at the basin center, suggesting the seasonal melting of ground ice as a possible mechanism for the large settlement. These findings emphasize the dynamic nature of permafrost landforms, demonstrate the capability of the InSAR technique to remotely monitor surface deformation of individual DTLBs, and illustrate the combination of ground-based and remote sensing observations to estimate thaw strain. Our study highlights the need for better description of the spatial heterogeneity of landscape-scale processes for regional assessment of surface dynamics on arctic coastal lowlands.

Methane sources in arctic thermokarst lake sediments on the North Slope of Alaska

Geobiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. Matheus Carnevali ◽  
M. Rohrssen ◽  
M. R. Williams ◽  
A. B. Michaud ◽  
H. Adams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lake Sediments ◽  
North Slope ◽  
Thermokarst Lake ◽  
The North ◽  
North Slope Of Alaska

Maps of Active Layer Thickness on the North Slope of Alaska by Upscaling P-Band Polarimetric SAR Retrievals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Whitcomb ◽  
Richard Chen ◽  
Daniel Clewley ◽  
Yonghong Yi ◽  
John Kimball ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
North Slope ◽  
Active Layer Thickness ◽  
Polarimetric Sar ◽  
The North ◽  
North Slope Of Alaska

scholarly journals Remote Sensing-Based Statistical Approach for Defining Drained Lake Basins in a Continuous Permafrost Region, North Slope of Alaska

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2539
Author(s):  
Helena Bergstedt ◽  
Benjamin M. Jones ◽  
Kenneth Hinkel ◽  
Louise Farquharson ◽  
Benjamin V. Gaglioti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Statistical Approach ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
North Slope ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
The North ◽  
North Slope Of Alaska ◽  
Permafrost Regions ◽  
Lake Basins

Lake formation and drainage are pervasive phenomena in permafrost regions. Drained lake basins (DLBs) are often the most common landforms in lowland permafrost regions in the Arctic (50% to 75% of the landscape). However, detailed assessments of DLB distribution and abundance are limited. In this study, we present a novel and scalable remote sensing-based approach to identifying DLBs in lowland permafrost regions, using the North Slope of Alaska as a case study. We validated this first North Slope-wide DLB data product against several previously published sub-regional scale datasets and manually classified points. The study area covered >71,000 km2, including a >39,000 km2 area not previously covered in existing DLB datasets. Our approach used Landsat-8 multispectral imagery and ArcticDEM data to derive a pixel-by-pixel statistical assessment of likelihood of DLB occurrence in sub-regions with different permafrost and periglacial landscape conditions, as well as to quantify aerial coverage of DLBs on the North Slope of Alaska. The results were consistent with previously published regional DLB datasets (up to 87% agreement) and showed high agreement with manually classified random points (64.4–95.5% for DLB and 83.2–95.4% for non-DLB areas). Validation of the remote sensing-based statistical approach on the North Slope of Alaska indicated that it may be possible to extend this methodology to conduct a comprehensive assessment of DLBs in pan-Arctic lowland permafrost regions. Better resolution of the spatial distribution of DLBs in lowland permafrost regions is important for quantitative studies on landscape diversity, wildlife habitat, permafrost, hydrology, geotechnical conditions, and high-latitude carbon cycling.

scholarly journals An Overview of a Nested Watershed Study in Arctic Alaska

2000 ◽  
Vol 31 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 245-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.L. Kane ◽  
L.D. Hinzman ◽  
J.P. McNamara ◽  
Z. Zhang ◽  
C.S. Benson
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Summer Precipitation ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
The North ◽  
High Soil Moisture ◽  
Arctic Alaska ◽  
North Slope Of Alaska ◽  
Kuparuk River ◽  
High Runoff ◽  
Circumpolar Arctic

The hydrology of a nest of three watersheds has been studied since 1992 on the North Slope of Alaska, with some additional data collected at individual sites previously. Hydrologic studies of nested watersheds are rare in the circumpolar arctic. Presented here is a comparison of the variability of important runoff-related processes from the headwater foothills to the low gradient, wetland dominated coastal area. Watersheds studied include Imnavait Creek, Upper Kuparuk River and finally the entire Kuparuk River. Also, runoff data from the low gradient Putuligayuk River, measured earlier (1970-1986), is included. Generally, rainfall constitutes 53 to 67 % of the annual precipitation. Most runoff is generated from the foothills; runoff is normally only generated from the coastal plain during snowmelt. Surface storage is an important process on the coastal plain where vertical processes (precipitation and evapotranspiration) are dominant during the summer. Continuous permafrost produces high soil moisture levels except where there are relatively steep slopes with gravity-induced drainage. Snowmelt results in a nearly saturated active layer with summer moisture levels closely allied with summer precipitation. High runoff ratios prevail during snowmelt and rainfall, except for the summer rainfall-generated runoff of the low gradient Putuligayuk River.

The New Swedish Cyprus Expedition 2010. Excavations at Dromolaxia Vizatzia/Hala Sultan Tekke. Preliminary results

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 69-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Fischer ◽  
Patrik Klingborg ◽  
Fanny Kärfve ◽  
Fredrika Kärfve ◽  
C. Hagberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Main Task ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
The North ◽  
12Th Century ◽  
Area 6 ◽  
Recent Phase ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Ground Penetrating

Determination of the complete occupational sequence of the site, including investigation of pre-12th century levels which were thoroughly studied by P. Åström since the 1970s, is the main task of the planned project. During the course of the expedition (NSCE11) in spring 2010 a ground-penetrating radar survey (GPR) was carried out at Dromolaxia Vizatzia/Hala Sultan Tekke in Area 6, leading to the discovery of a large Late Cypriote complex. The compound is bordered to the north by a substantial wall, against which nine rooms (so far) could be exposed. Two occupational phases have been verified but there are indications of a third. The suggested functions of the various structures of the most recent phase are: living, working, storage and administration spaces. The rich find contexts point to the production of textiles and metal objects, and the locally produced pottery is generally of a high quality. There are also many imports, mainly from the Mycenaean sphere of culture. The locally produced vessels from Phase 2 include the “Creature krater” which is a masterpiece of a high artistic standard. Another piece of elevated artistry is the piece of a “Warrior vase”.

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