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Physical and ecological changes associated with warming permafrost and thermokarst in Interior Alaska

Author

Listed:
  • T. E. Osterkamp
  • M. T. Jorgenson
  • E. A. G. Schuur
  • Y. L. Shur
  • M. Z. Kanevskiy
  • J. G. Vogel
  • V. E. Tumskoy

Abstract

Observations and measurements were made of physical and ecological changes that have occurred since 1985 at a tundra site near Healy, Alaska. Air temperatures decreased (1985 through 1999) while permafrost warmed and thawed creating thermokarst terrain, probably as a result of increased snow depths. Permafrost, active layer and ground‐ice conditions at the Healy site are the result of the interaction of climatic, ecologic and other factors. The slow accumulation of ground ice in an intermediate permafrost layer formed by upward freezing from the permafrost surface leads to long‐term differential frost heave and microrelief. When ground ice in the permafrost melts, the ground surface settles differentially resulting in thermokarst terrain (pits, gullies). Windblown snow fills the thermokarst depressions causing further warming and thawing of the underlying permafrost — a positive feedback effect that enhances permafrost degradation. Thermokarst‐induced changes in relief alter the near‐surface hydrology and ecological processes. Changes in vegetation included differential tussock growth and mortality and a shift in moss species abundance and relative productivity, depending on microtopographic position created by the thermokarst terrain. Water redistribution towards thermokarst depressions caused adjacent higher areas to become drier and resulted in increased moss mortality and shrub abundance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • T. E. Osterkamp & M. T. Jorgenson & E. A. G. Schuur & Y. L. Shur & M. Z. Kanevskiy & J. G. Vogel & V. E. Tumskoy, 2009. "Physical and ecological changes associated with warming permafrost and thermokarst in Interior Alaska," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(3), pages 235-256, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:perpro:v:20:y:2009:i:3:p:235-256
    DOI: 10.1002/ppp.656
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    Cited by:

    1. Lingxiao Wang & Lin Zhao & Huayun Zhou & Shibo Liu & Guojie Hu & Zhibin Li & Chong Wang & Jianting Zhao, 2023. "Evidence of ground ice melting detected by InSAR and in situ monitoring over permafrost terrain on the Qinghai‐Xizang (Tibet) Plateau," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(1), pages 52-67, January.
    2. Anne Morgenstern & Pier Paul Overduin & Frank Günther & Samuel Stettner & Justine Ramage & Lutz Schirrmeister & Mikhail N. Grigoriev & Guido Grosse, 2021. "Thermo‐erosional valleys in Siberian ice‐rich permafrost," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(1), pages 59-75, January.
    3. Roman Desyatkin & Matrena Okoneshnikova & Alexandra Ivanova & Maya Nikolaeva & Nikolay Filippov & Alexey Desyatkin, 2022. "Dynamics of Vegetation and Soil Cover of Pyrogenically Disturbed Areas of the Northern Taiga under Conditions of Thermokarst Development and Climate Warming," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    4. E. Schuur & B. Abbott & W. Bowden & V. Brovkin & P. Camill & J. Canadell & J. Chanton & F. Chapin & T. Christensen & P. Ciais & B. Crosby & C. Czimczik & G. Grosse & J. Harden & D. Hayes & G. Hugelius, 2013. "Expert assessment of vulnerability of permafrost carbon to climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 359-374, July.
    5. Jordi Cristóbal & Patrick Graham & Marcel Buchhorn & Anupma Prakash, 2016. "A New Integrated High-Latitude Thermal Laboratory for the Characterization of Land Surface Processes in Alaska’s Arctic and Boreal Regions," Data, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-9, September.

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