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Number of results: 13
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Abstract

The thermal state of permafrost is a crucial indicator of environmental changes occurring in the Arctic. The monitoring of ground temperatures in Svalbard has been carried out in instrumented boreholes, although only few are deeper than 10 m and none are located in southern part of Spitsbergen. Only one of them, Janssonhaugen, located in central part of the island, provides the ground temperature data down to 100 m. Recent studies have proved that significant warming of the ground surface temperatures, observed especially in the last three decades, can be detected not only just few meters below the surface, but reaches much deeper layers. The aim of this paper is evaluation of the permafrost state in the vicinity of the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund using the numerical heat transfer model CryoGrid 2. The model is calibrated with ground temperature data collected from a 2 m deep borehole established in 2013 and then validated with data from the period 1990-2014 from five depths up to 1 m, measured routinely at the Hornsund meteorological station. The study estimates modelled ground thermal profile down to 100 m in depth and presents the evolution of the ground thermal regime in the last 25 years. The simulated subsurface temperature trumpet shows that multiannual variability in that period can reach 25 m in depth. The changes of the ground thermal regime correspond to an increasing trend of air temperatures observed in Hornsund and general warming across Svalbard.
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Authors and Affiliations

Tomasz Wawrzyniak
Marzena Osuch
Jarosław Napiórkowski
Sebastian Westermann
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Abstract

The analysis of climate changes in of the Tarfala valley and Kebnekaise Mts area, and changes within the range of the Scandinavian Glaciation shows that even in the warmest period of Holocene there were favourable environmental conditions for permafrost of the Pleistocene origin to be preserved in this area. The results of electrical resistivity surveys together with analysis of available publications indicate that two layers of permafrost can be distinguished in the Storglaciären forefield. The shallower, discountinuous, with thickness ca. 2–6 meters is connected to the current climate, The second, deeper located layer of permafrost, separated with talik, is older. Its thickness can reach dozens of metres and is probably the result of permafrost formation during Pleistocene. The occurrence of two-layered permafrost in the Tarfala valley in Kebnekaise area shows the evolution of mountain permafrost may be seen as analogous to that in Western Siberia. This means that the effect of climate changes gives a similar effect in permafrost formation and evolution in both altitudinal and latitudinal extent. The occurrence of two-layered permafrost in Scandes and Western Siberia plain indicates possible analogy in climatic evolution, and gives opportunity to understand them in uniform way.
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Authors and Affiliations

Wojciech Dobiński
Michał Glazer
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Abstract

Research on permafrost in the Abisko area of northern Sweden date from the 1950s. A mean annual air temperature of −3°C in the Abisko mountains (i.e. 1000 m a.s.l.) and −1°C beyond the mountain area at an altitude of around 400m suggests that both moun− tain and arctic permafrost occur there. Several geophysical surveys were performed by means of resistivity tomography (ERT) and electromagnetic mapping (EM). Wherever pos− sible the geophysical survey results were calibrated by digging tests pits. The results show that permafrost occurs extensively in the mountain areas, especially those above 900m a.s.l. and also sporadically at lower altitudes. At 400 m a.s.l. permafrost may be up to 30 m thick. Its thickness and extent are determined largely by the very variable local rock and soil con− ditions. Fossil permafrost is also likely to occur in this area.

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Authors and Affiliations

Wojciech Dobiński
ORCID: ORCID
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Abstract

This paper presents distribution and properties of soils within the Fuglebekken catchment in neighbourhood of the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund, SW Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago). The present study describes 8 representative soil profiles out of 34 profiles studied for the whole catchment. Soils of the Fuglebekken catchment show initial stage of their formation because of very slow rate of chemical and biological weathering in Arctic climate conditions . Uplifted marine terraces of the Fuglebekken catchment are characterized by domination of Haplic Cryosols which ar e related to stony and gravelly parent material (reworked marine sediments). Such soils constitute of 17% of the studied area. Turbic Cryosols forming characteristic micro−relief occur on flat surfaces and gentle slopes. Such soils (covering 7% of the catchment) are formed from loamy parent material. Along streams Hyperskeletic Cryosols (Reduc taquic) and Turbic Histic Cryosols occur. The last two soil units (constituting 11% of the catchment) are mantled by continuous and dense vegetation cover (especially mosses) due to high content of water rich in nutrients flowing from colonies of sea birds located on slopes of Ariekammen and Fugleberget. The studied soils are generally characterized by shallow occurrence of permafrost ( i.e. at 30–50 cm), high content of pebbles, sandy or sandy loam texture, and neutral or s lightly alkaline reaction. Soils occurring along streams and near colonies of sea birds show higher content of nutrients (N and P) in comparison with other soils and are covered by more dense vegetation. This indicates important impact of bird guano on chemical composition of soil solution and fertility of such soils.
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Authors and Affiliations

Wojciech Szymański
Stefan Skiba
Bronisław Wojtuń
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Abstract

Preliminary results of hydrological investigations carried through at southern shore of Bellsund are presented. Negative meltwater budget of the permafrost was noted for summer 1986. Temperature and total mineralization of waters are varied in space. Temperature of outflowing meltwaters is related to air temperature. Diurnal rhythm of temperature has been distinguished in springs.

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Authors and Affiliations

Stefan Bartoszewski
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Abstract

We present the variability of the thermal state and thickness of permafrost active layer at the raised marine beaches in Svalbard. The investigations were carried out using direct probing, thaw tube, ground temperature and radar soundings at Holocene strand plains 10–20 m a.s.l. in Fuglebergsletta (SW Spitsbergen) and at the shore of Kinnvika Bay (Nordaustlandet). Their results were compared to those obtained at other coastal sites in Svalbard. The ground temperature measurements were conducted in 2009 on August, recognized as the standard month for the maximum thawing during the last decade. The studied sites are typical for close to extreme active layer conditions on Svalbard. In Hornsund, the thawing depth exceeded 2 m, while in Kinnvika the active layer was thinner than 1 m. In Svalbard, the depth of thawing decreases generally from south to north and from the open sea coast to the central parts of islands. These differences are the consequence of diverse climatic conditions strongly determined by the radiation balance modified by a number of regional ( e.g. ocean circulation) and local ( e.g. duration of snow deposition) conditions.
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Authors and Affiliations

Piotr Dolnicki
Tomasz Budzik
Mariusz Grabiec
Dariusz Puczko
Łukasz Gawor
Jan Klementowski
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Abstract

Rock glaciers are lobate or tongue-shaped landforms which consist of rock debris and have either an ice core or an ice-cemented matrix. Characteristics such as the landscape setting, morphology, material and current geomorphological state are universally used to classify rock glaciers. In Antarctica, rock glaciers have only been surveyed on the Antarctic Peninsula, Ellsworth Mountains and in Victoria Land. This paper presents the first data on the identification and description of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen nunataks, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. The rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen exhibit a variety of morphologies and states. Our data suggests that the rock glaciers in Brugdedalen and Jutuldalen are active, while the features at Vassdalen and Grjotlia are considered inactive, and a feature at Grjotøyra is considered relict. The described rock glaciers do not fit into existing classification systems and appear to be different to alpine, Arctic and Andean rock glaciers. They further present examples that fit both the ‘glaciogenic’ and ‘permafrost’ development theories.
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Authors and Affiliations

Elizabeth M. Rudolph
K. Ian Meiklejohn
Christel D. Hansen
David W. Hedding
Werner Nel
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Abstract

The soils of Arctic regions are of great interest due to their high sensitivity to climate change. Kvartsittsletta coast in the vicinity of the Baranowski Research Station of the University of Wrocław constitutes a sequence of differently aged sea terraces covered with different fractions of beach material. It is a parent material for several developing soil types. Despite the low intensity of the modern soil-forming processes, the soil cover is characterized by high diversity. Soil properties are formed mainly by geological and geomorphological factors, which are superimposed by the influence of climate and living organisms.
The degree of development of soil is usually an indicator of its relative age. This article highlights the dominant influence of lithology and microrelief over other soil-forming factors, including the duration for which the parent material was exposed to external factors. The soils on the highest (oldest) terrace steps of the Kvartsittsletta rarely showed deep signs of soil-forming processes other than cryoturbations. On the youngest terraces, deep-reaching effects of soil processes associated with a relatively warm climate, including the occurrence of cambic horizons, were observed. Their presence in Arctic regions carries important environmental information and may be relevant to studies of climate change.
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Authors and Affiliations

Bartosz Korabiewski
1

  1. Department of Physical Geography, Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137 Wrocław, Poland
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Abstract

DC resistivity soundings and geomorphological surveys have been carried out in the marginal zones and adjacent outwash plains of two glaciers in central Spitsbergen, Norwegian Arctic: Ebbabreen and Hörbyebreen. The study has revealed complex relationships between landforms, buried glacier ice and permafrost. From this work it is possible to distinguish between moraine ridges which are ice-cored and those which are not. The latter occur in areas which have possibly been affected by glacier surge. The active layer thickness was found to be 0.4 to 2.5 m for diamicton deposits (moraines) and 0.3 to 1.6 m in outwash glacifluvial sediments. The sediment infill thickness in valleys was determined to be as much as 20 m, thereby demonstrating that sandurs have important role in sediment storage in a glacial system. Typical resistivity values for sediment types in both the active layer and in permafrost were also determined.

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Authors and Affiliations

Justyna Gibas
Grzegorz Rachlewicz
Witold Szczuciński
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Abstract

Humic substances are polydisperse mixtures of structurally complex matters with different molecular weights. The complexity of molecular composition of humic substances is reflected through their physical and chemical properties and results in diverse interactions both with inorganic components and living organisms. The correlation of the molecular composition of humic and fulvic acids and their molecular weight distribution were analyzed by means of CP/MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. Humic acids are a dynamic system containing macromolecular, oligomeric and low-molecular components. Fulvic acids are a monodisperse mixture of relatively low-molecular (up to 2 kDa) organic compounds. A significant correlation between the content of high and medium weight molecular fractions with labile fragments and low molecular weight fractions with hydrophobous fragments of humic acids has been revealed.

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Authors and Affiliations

Evgeny Lodygin
Roman Vasilevich
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Abstract

Data on the molecular structure of humic substances (HSs) of zonal soils for the southern, middle, northern taiga and southern tundra of northeastern European Russia have been obtained. This was accomplished using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) technique. The soils under study vary in the point of genesis and degree of hydromorphism. The impact of environmental factors (temperature and humidity) on qualitative and quantitative composition of humic (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) has been determined. Excess moisture significantly affects HS accumulation and HS molecular structure: hydromorphic taiga soils accumulate HSs enriched by unoxidized aliphatic fragments, tundra soils – the ones enriched by carbohydrate fragments. Various conditions of soil genesis predefine the specific character of structural and functional parameters of HSs in the southern taiga to southern tundra soils, as is expressed through the increased portion of labile carbohydrate and amino acid fragments and methoxyl groups within the structure of HSs. The tundra humification is characterized by levelling-off of structural and functional parameters of major classes of specific organic compounds of soils – HAs and FAs.

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Authors and Affiliations

Evgeny Lodygin
Roman Vasilevich
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Abstract

Humic substances are ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Humic acids (HAs) actively interact with organic and inorganic components of lake sediments. This interaction depends on the molecular structure and elemental composition of HAs. The presented research focuses on the investigation of the composition and molecular structure of humic acids isolated from lakes located in the Lena Delta in the Russian Arctic. The findings of the research are needed to estimate the potential capacity of humic acids to bind microelements, particularly toxic metals, in stable compounds. Surface sediment samples (0–10 cm) were collected from 8 lakes by Van Veen grab during the summer period of the “Expedition LENA 2019”. We analyzed elemental composition of the HAs samples. The results showed that the studied HAs of lake sediments are characterized by low nitrogen content and prevalence of aliphatic fragments in their molecular structure. Furthermore, it was found that the studied humic acids are less mature, showing mineralization processes dominant over humification, and have relatively low potential to complexation compared with soils of the Lena Delta as well as lake sediments of territories with more boreal climate conditions.
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Authors and Affiliations

Alina V. Guzeva
1
Ekaterina A. Krylova
2
Irina V. Fedorova
2

  1. St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of RAS, Institute of Limnology RAS, Sevastyanova 9, St. Petersburg, 196105, Russia
  2. St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya enb. 7/9, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
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Abstract

Thermophysical properties of frozen soil have a great influence on the quality of cast-in-place concrete piles. In this paper, the embedded concrete temperature monitoring system is used to test the variation law of the concrete temperature during the construction of the bored pile. Thermophysical properties of permafrost around piles are tested. Based on the theory of three-phase unsteady heat conduction of soil, the influence of specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and latent heat of phase transformation on the temperature change of a concrete pile is systematically studied. The thermal parameter is obtained which exerts the most significant influence on the temperature field. According to the influence degree of frozen soil on pile temperature, the order from high to low is thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, latent heat of phase change, and specific heat capacity. The changes in pile wall temperature caused by the change of these properties range between 2.60–10.97°C, 1.49– 9.39°C, 2.16–2.36°C, and 0.24–3.45°C, respectively. The change percentages of parameters vary between 35.77–47.12%, 12.22–40.20%, 12.46–32.25%, and 3.83–20.31%, respectively. Therefore, when designing and constructing concrete foundation piles, the influence of the thermal conductivity of frozen soil on concrete pile temperature should be considered first. The differences between the simulated and measured temperature along the concrete pile in the frozen soil varying with the respective thermal properties are: –2.99– 7.98°C, –1.89–4.99°C, –1.20–1.99°C, and –1.76–1.27°C. Polyurethane foam and other materials with small thermal conductivity can be added around the pile to achieve pile insulation.
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Authors and Affiliations

Ziying Liu
1
Tianlai Yu
2
Ning Yan
2
Lipeng Gu
2

  1. Northeast Forestry University, College of Home and Art Design, Harbin, 150040, China
  2. Northeast Forestry University, College of Civil Engineering, Harbin, 150040, China

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