Ice and permafrost effects on delta morphology and channel dynamics

Lauzon, Rebecca Elizabeth; Piliouras, Anastasia; Rowland, Joel C.

doi:10.1029/2019GL082792

Title: Ice and permafrost effects on delta morphology and channel dynamics

Journal Article · 06 June 2019 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082792 · OSTI ID:1525858

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Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Arctic regions are changing rapidly as permafrost thaws and sea ice retreats. These changes directly affect Arctic river deltas, but how permafrost and ice alter delta hydrology and sediment transport are not well researched. This knowledge gap limits our ability to forecast how these systems will respond to continued warming. We adapt the reduced complexity model of delta morphodynamics DeltaRCM to investigate the influences of permafrost and landfast ice on delta morphology and channel dynamics. We find that ice cover and permafrost decrease channel mobility, increase shoreline roughness, and route and deposit more sediment offshore. Ice cover also enhances overbank deposition, increasing subaerial delta elevations. Furthermore, our modelling suggests that permafrost and ice loss in a warming climate could lead to less overbank and offshore deposition and more dynamic and spatially distributed fluxes of water and sediment across Arctic river deltas.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1525858

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--19-22258

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 46; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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