A geosystems approach to permafrost investigations for engineering applications, an example from a road stabilization experiment, Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada

Stephani, E.; Fortier, Daniel; Shur, Y.; Fortier, Richard; Doré, Guy

doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2013.12.006

Cited by 43 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…For example, thawing permafrost in Canada's North has had detrimental effects on infrastructure such as highways and buildings (Prowse et al 2009;Stephani et al 2014). In southern Canada, temperature increase has also resulted in a significant challenge for the energy sector to meet peak electricity load in summer due to an increasing cooling demand (Wilbanks et al 2008;OSPE 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indices of Canada’s future climate for general and agricultural adaptation applications

Zhang

Cannon

et al. 2018

Climatic Change

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This study evaluates regional-scale projections of climate indices that are relevant to climate change impacts in Canada. We consider indices of relevance to different sectors including those that describe heat conditions for different crop types, temperature threshold exceedances relevant for human beings and ecological ecosystems such as the number of days temperatures are above certain thresholds, utility relevant indices that indicate levels of energy demand for cooling or heating, and indices that represent precipitation conditions. Results are based on an ensemble of high-resolution statistically downscaled climate change projections from 24 global climate models (GCMs) under the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 emissions scenarios. The statistical downscaling approach includes a bias-correction procedure, resulting in more realistic indices than those computed from the original GCM data. We find that the level of projected changes in the indices scales well with the projected increase in the global mean temperature and is insensitive to the emission scenarios. At the global warming level about 2.1°C above pre-industrial (corresponding to the multi-model ensemble mean for 2031-2050 under the RCP8.5 scenario), there is almost complete model agreement on the sign of projected changes in temperature indices for every region in Canada. This includes projected increases in extreme high temperatures and cooling demand, growing season length, and decrease in heating demand. Models project much larger changes in temperature indices at the higher 4.5°C global warming level (corresponding to 2081-2100 under the RCP8.5 scenario). Models also project an increase in total precipitation, in the frequency and intensity Climatic Change (2018) 148:249-263 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-018-2199-x Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-018-2199-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indices of Canada’s future climate for general and agricultural adaptation applications

Zhang

Cannon

et al. 2018

Climatic Change

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“…The main interest of cryostratigraphy lies on its ability to reflect the environmental conditions that led to the ground ice formation, therefore contributing to our understanding of permafrost origin and dynamics, deposition environment, processes of ground ice aggradation and degradation, and thermal history (Katasonov 1978;French 1998;Shur and Jorgenson 1998;Gilbert et al 2016). Methods of cryostratigraphy are also used for geotechnical investigations and studies of properties of frozen soils (Bray 2008(Bray , 2012Stephani et al 2010Stephani et al , 2014Calmel et al 2012;De Granpré et al 2012;Kanevskiy et al 2012Kanevskiy et al , 2013Pumple et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Syngenetic dynamic of permafrost of a polar desert solifluction lobe, Ward Hunt Island, Nunavut

et al. 2017

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Repeated freeze-thaw cycles on slopes trigger sorting and solifluction mass movements, while subsequent displacement of material modifies the geomorphology of slopes as well as permafrost dynamics. This study focuses on the geomorphology and the cryostratigraphy of a polar desert stone-banked solifluction lobe with the objective to clarify the impact of slow mass movements on ground ice aggradation. The morphology of the solifluction lobe was characterized by peripheral ridges of coarse gravel, partially surrounding a depression filled with finer sediments saturated with water and covered by organics. Cryostratigraphic analysis demonstrated that the solifluction lobe's formation led to the development of a syngenetic layer of permafrost with an ice content that varied according to the location in the lobe. The ice-rich cryofacies formed in the central depression of the lobe should act as a buffer to potential active layer deepening, slowing down its thawing, whereas the ice-poor cryofacies formed under the ridges is expected to thaw faster than the central depression under climate warming scenarios. Thawing of the ice-rich zone in the future will result in differential thaw subsidence between the ridges and the central depression of solifluction lobes, along with increased drainage through the ridges and subsequent changes in hydrology.Key words: solifluction lobe, cryostratigraphy, syngenetic permafrost, ground ice, polar desert.Résumé : Les cycles de gel et de dégel répétés sur les pentes déclenchent le classement granulométrique et les mouvements de masse de solifluxion, tandis que le déplacement subséquent de la matière modifie la géomorphologie des pentes ainsi que la dynamique du pergélisol. Dans le cadre de cette étude, on se penche sur la géomorphologie et la cryostratigraphie d'un lobe de solifluxion à talus de pierre d'un désert polaire, et ce, dans le but d'expliquer l'impact de lents mouvements de masse sur le colmatage des glaces de sol. La morphologie du lobe de solifluxion était caractérisée par des crêtes périphériques de gros gravier, entourant partiellement une dépression remplie de sédiments fins saturés d'eau et couverts de composé organique. L'analyse cryostratigraphique a démontré que la formation du lobe de solifluxion est à l'origine du développement d'une couche syngénétique de pergélisol ayant une teneur en glace qui variait selon l'emplacement dans le lobe. Le cryofaciès riche en glace ainsi formé dans la dépression centrale du lobe devrait servir For personal use only.de tampon à l'approfondissement possible de la couche active, ralentissant son dégel, tandis que l'on s'attend à ce que le cryofaciès pauvre en glace formé sous les crêtes dégèle plus rapidement que la dépression centrale selon divers scénarios de réchauffement climatique. Par la suite, le dégel de la zone riche en glace causera un différentiel d'affaissement attribuable au dégel, et ce, entre les crêtes et la dépression centrale des lobes de solifluxion, avec l'écoulement accru à travers les crêtes et les cha...

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“…Epigenetic permafrost is characteristically ice poor as the moisture source is often restricted to the surrounding sediment (French and Shur, 2010;Murton, 2013). The presence of the pore cryofacies in frost-susceptible material is characteristic of epigenetic permafrost (Stephani et al, 2014). However, ice-rich cryofacies may form in epigenetic permafrost if an external water source is available to recharge the local groundwater system (Pollard, 2000a;Kanevskiy et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, ice-rich cryofacies may form in epigenetic permafrost if an external water source is available to recharge the local groundwater system (Pollard, 2000a;Kanevskiy et al, 2014). In addition to the mode of permafrost aggradation, sediment characteristics and the availability of moisture have a controlling influence on the presence and morphology of ground ice (Stephani et al, 2014). The application of cryostratigraphy to palaeo-landscape reconstruction therefore requires consideration of the physical properties of the soil, sediment, or bedrock which host ground ice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryostratigraphy, sedimentology, and the late Quaternary evolution of the Zackenberg River delta, northeast Greenland

et al. 2017

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Abstract. The Zackenberg River delta is located in northeast Greenland (74 • 30 N, 20 • 30 E) at the outlet of the Zackenberg fjord valley. The fjord-valley fill consists of a series of terraced deltaic deposits (ca. 2 km 2 ) formed during relative sea-level (RSL) fall. We investigated the deposits using sedimentological and cryostratigraphic techniques together with optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. We identify four facies associations in sections (4 to 22 m in height) exposed along the modern Zackenberg River and coast. Facies associations relate to (I) overriding glaciers, (II) retreating glaciers and quiescent glaciomarine conditions, (III) delta progradation in a fjord valley, and (IV) fluvial activity and niveo-aeolian processes. Pore, layered, and suspended cryofacies are identified in two 20 m deep ice-bonded sediment cores. The cryofacies distribution, together with low overall ground-ice content, indicates that permafrost is predominately epigenetic in these deposits. Fourteen OSL ages constrain the deposition of the cored deposits to between approximately 13 and 11 ka, immediately following deglaciation. The timing of permafrost aggradation was closely related to delta progradation and began following the subaerial exposure of the delta plain (ca. 11 ka). Our results reveal information concerning the interplay between deglaciation, RSL change, sedimentation, permafrost aggradation, and the timing of these events. These findings have implications for the timing and mode of permafrost aggradation in other fjord valleys in northeast Greenland.

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A geosystems approach to permafrost investigations for engineering applications, an example from a road stabilization experiment, Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada

Cited by 43 publications

References 11 publications

Indices of Canada’s future climate for general and agricultural adaptation applications

Indices of Canada’s future climate for general and agricultural adaptation applications

Syngenetic dynamic of permafrost of a polar desert solifluction lobe, Ward Hunt Island, Nunavut

Cryostratigraphy, sedimentology, and the late Quaternary evolution of the Zackenberg River delta, northeast Greenland

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