Quantifying micro-topographic impacts in ice wedge systems: a preliminary assessment
Melissa Ward Jones, University of Alaska Fairbanks, mkwardjones@alaska.edu (Presenter)
Benjamin Jones, Institute of Northern Engineering - University of Alaska, bmjones3@alaska.edu
Donald Walker, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, dawalker@alaska.edu
Mikhail Kanevskiy, University of Alaska Fairbanks, mkanevskiy@alaska.edu
Yuri Shur, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, ffys@uaf.edu
Jana Peirce, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, jlpeirce@alaska.edu
Simon Zwieback, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, szwieback@alaska.edu
Amy Breen, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, albreen@alaska.edu
Emily Youcha, University of Alaska Fairbanks, ekyoucha@alaska.edu
Go Iwahana, International Arctic Research Center, giwahana@alaska.edu
Charles Miller, NASA JPL, charles.e.miller@jpl.nasa.gov
Ice wedges are the most common type of massive ice in terrestrial permafrost systems. Approximately 60% of the Alaskan Coastal Plain in northern Alaska is estimated to be underlain by wedge ice. Ice wedges form polygonal terrain and drive micro-topographic changes through formation (producing rims and low-centered polygons) and degradation (subsidence from ground ice melt and producing high-centered polygons). Ice wedge micro-topography impacts environmental parameters within ice-wedge systems including vegetation patterns, snow depth, surface hydrology, biogeochemical fluxes, and ground temperatures. The following will present a new ABoVE-affiliated project that was recently funded by the NASA New Investigator Program. This research is using very high-resolution LiDAR and UAV datasets within the ABoVE domain to characterize ice wedge micro-topography and correlate it to environmental parameters using field and remote sensing measurements to quantify and understand the impacts of ice wedge micro-topography on snow depth, surface hydrology, vegetation parameters, biogeochemical fluxes and ground temperatures. Preliminary data and analysis at the Teshekpuk Lake Observatory, and Prudhoe Bay will be presented. Preliminary analysis at Prudhoe Bay showed topography varied by ~0.5 m using 2018 LiDAR and mean annual ground temperatures varied by 2.2 °C. Future research will focus on the drivers of ice wedge system micro-topography as a driver of key arctic ecosystem characteristics and processes. This knowledge is critical as micro-topography evolution drives significant ecosystem changes and feedbacks.
Presentation: RH_Ward_Jones__82_31.pdf
Associated Project(s):
Presentation Type: Research Highlight
Session: Permafrost and Hydrology
Session Date: Wednesday (5/11) 1:30 PM