Quantifying wedge-ice volumes in yedoma and thermokarst basin deposits


Contact
Mathias.Ulrich [ at ] uni-leipzig.de

Abstract

Wedge-ice volume (WIV) is a key factor in assessing the response of ice-rich permafrost landscapes to thaw and in quantifying deep permafrost soil carbon inventories. Here, we present a method for calculating WIV in late Pleistocene Yedoma deposits and Holocene thermokarst basin deposits at four study areas in Siberia and Alaska. Ice-wedge polygons and thermokarst mound (baydzherakh) patterns were mapped on different landscape units using very high-resolution (0.5 m/pixel) satellite imagery (WorldView-1 and GeoEye-1). In a geographic information system (GIS) environment, Thiessen polygons were automatically created to reconstruct relict ice-wedge polygonal networks, and field and published data on ice-wedge dimensions were used to generate three-dimensional subsurface models that distinguish between epi- and syngenetic ice-wedge geometry. The results reveal significant variations in WIV between the study sites and within certain terrain units. Calculated maximum WIV ranges from 31.4 to 63.2 vol% for Yedoma deposits and from 6.6 to 13.2 vol% for thermokarst basin deposits.



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Primary Division
Programs
Primary Topic
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
35710
DOI 10.1002/ppp.1810

Cite as
Ulrich, M. , Grosse, G. , Strauss, J. and Schirrmeister, L. (2014): Quantifying wedge-ice volumes in yedoma and thermokarst basin deposits , Permafrost and Periglacial Processes . doi: 10.1002/ppp.1810


Download
[thumbnail of Abstract_Quantifying_Wedge_Ice.pdf]
Preview
PDF
Abstract_Quantifying_Wedge_Ice.pdf

Download (156kB) | Preview
Cite this document as:

Share
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email


Citation

Geographical region

Research Platforms
N/A

Campaigns
N/A

Funded by
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/338335


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item