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The thermal regime of permafrost and its susceptibility to degradation in upland terrain near Inuvik, N.W.T

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  • C. R. Burn
  • J. R. Mackay
  • S. V. Kokelj

Abstract

Mean near‐surface ground temperatures in upland terrain near Inuvik range between −4°C and −1.2°C and the thickness of permafrost is about 90 m. The warm permafrost is due to the relatively deep snow cover that accumulates in the open‐canopy forest. Changes in surface conditions may lead to permafrost degradation in this environment, as is evident from elevated ground temperatures beneath disturbed surfaces in a gravel pit, in terrain burned by forest fire and where the snow depth has been increased by fencing. The values for mean annual ground temperature near Inuvik are lower end‐members of the distribution of ground temperatures in the boreal forests of northwest Canada. The range in the mean temperature of near‐surface permafrost throughout this 1200‐km wide belt (from 0°C to about −4°C) is comparable to the range over 100 km northwards from Inuvik across the treeline (from about −4°C to −8°C). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada.

Suggested Citation

  • C. R. Burn & J. R. Mackay & S. V. Kokelj, 2009. "The thermal regime of permafrost and its susceptibility to degradation in upland terrain near Inuvik, N.W.T," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 221-227, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:perpro:v:20:y:2009:i:2:p:221-227
    DOI: 10.1002/ppp.649
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