Soil Physical and Environmental Conditions Controlling Patterned-Ground Variability at a Continuous Permafrost Site, Svalbard

TY - JOUR

T1 - Soil Physical and Environmental Conditions Controlling Patterned-Ground Variability at a Continuous Permafrost Site, Svalbard

AU - Watanabe, Tatsuya

AU - Matsuoka, Norikazu

AU - Christiansen, Hanne Hvidtfeldt

AU - Cable, Stefanie

N1 - CENPERM[2017]

PY - 2017/4/1

Y1 - 2017/4/1

N2 - This study examines soil physical and environmental conditions controlling patterned-ground variability on an alluvial fan in a continuous permafrost landscape, at Adventdalen, Svalbard. On-site monitoring of ground temperature, soil moisture and snow depth, laboratory analyses of soil physical properties and principal component analysis indicate that the distribution of patterned ground depends primarily on soil texture, soil moisture and the winter ground thermal regime associated with snow cover. Mudboils and composite patterns (mudboils surrounded by small polygons) occupy well-drained areas composed of clay-rich aeolian sediments. Compared to mudboils, composite patterns show a sharper contrast in soil texture between barren centres and vegetated rims. Hummocks filled with organic materials develop on poorly drained lowlands associated with a shallow water table. Ice-wedge polygons are dominant on sandy loess-covered areas where the local wind regime minimises snow cover, enhancing ground cooling that promotes thermal contraction cracking.

AB - This study examines soil physical and environmental conditions controlling patterned-ground variability on an alluvial fan in a continuous permafrost landscape, at Adventdalen, Svalbard. On-site monitoring of ground temperature, soil moisture and snow depth, laboratory analyses of soil physical properties and principal component analysis indicate that the distribution of patterned ground depends primarily on soil texture, soil moisture and the winter ground thermal regime associated with snow cover. Mudboils and composite patterns (mudboils surrounded by small polygons) occupy well-drained areas composed of clay-rich aeolian sediments. Compared to mudboils, composite patterns show a sharper contrast in soil texture between barren centres and vegetated rims. Hummocks filled with organic materials develop on poorly drained lowlands associated with a shallow water table. Ice-wedge polygons are dominant on sandy loess-covered areas where the local wind regime minimises snow cover, enhancing ground cooling that promotes thermal contraction cracking.

KW - Active layer

KW - Hummock

KW - Ice-wedge polygon

KW - Mudboil

KW - Patterned ground

KW - Svalbard

U2 - 10.1002/ppp.1924

DO - 10.1002/ppp.1924

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84997530314

SN - 1045-6740

VL - 28

SP - 433

EP - 445

JO - Permafrost and Periglacial Processes

JF - Permafrost and Periglacial Processes

IS - 2

ER -