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Title: Geophysical Monitoring Shows that Spatial Heterogeneity in Thermohydrological Dynamics Reshapes a Transitional Permafrost System

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gl091149· OSTI ID:1766543
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  3. Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zurich (Switzerland)
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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 snowpack 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. Inter-annual measurements show that deep permafrost temperatures increased by about 0.2°C over two 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.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1766543
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 48, Issue 6; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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  • Uhlemann, Sebastian; Dafflon, Baptiste; Ulrich, Craig
  • Next Generation Ecosystems Experiment - Arctic, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (US); NGEE Arctic, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States) https://doi.org/10.5440/1728709
dataset January 2021

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
Geophysical Monitoring
Permafrost
Thermohydrological processes