Active layer and permafrost thermal regimes in the ice-free areas of Antarctica

Hrbáček, Filip; Oliva, Marc; Hansen, Christel; Balks, Megan; O'Neill, Tanya Ann; de Pablo, Miguel Angel; Ponti, Stefano; Ramos, Miguel; Vieira, Gonçalo; Abramov, Andrey; Kaplan Pastíriková, Lucia; Guglielmin, Mauro; Goyanes, Gabriel; Francelino, Marcio Rocha; Schaefer, Carlos; Lacelle, Denis

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104458

Cited by 15 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 188 publications

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“…van Wessem et al 2017, Palerme et al 2017) and the overall soil thermal conditions (e.g. Hrbáček et al 2023). Yet, the VWC variability on the study sites exhibited a relatively similar pattern.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variability of soil moisture on three sites in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula in 2022/23

Hrbáček,

Kňažková,

Farzamian

et al. 2023

Czech Polar Rep.

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Soil moisture represents one of the crucial parameters of the terrestrial environments in Antarctica. It affects the biological abundance and also the thermal state of the soils. In this study, we present one year of volumetric water content and soil temperature measurements on James Ross Island, Nelson Island and King George Island. The volumetric water content at all sites increased with depth. The mean summer values were between 0.24 and 0.37 cm3/cm3 (James Ross Island), 0.30 and 0.40 cm3/cm3 (Nelson Island) and 0.11 and 0.36 cm3/cm3 (King George Island). We found that the freezing point of the soils was close to 0°C on Nelson Island and King George Island. We attributed the lower temperature of soil freezing around -0.5°C on James Ross Island to the site location close to the sea. Even though the sites are located in the distinctive climate zones and comprise of contrasting soil types, the only differences of moisture regime were observed the surficial layer of the studied sites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The knowledge on soil moisture in Antarctica is mostly limited to the area of McMurdo Dry Valleys where general soil research is carried out in the last few decades (e.g. Hrbáček et al 2023). The vast majority of soils in the McMurdo region are very dry with water content lower than 5% (Seybold et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability of soil moisture on three sites in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula in 2022/23

Hrbáček,

Kňažková,

Farzamian

et al. 2023

Czech Polar Rep.

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show abstract

“…The thickness of the active layer corresponds to the maximum depth of the 0 °C isotherm; the boundary with the underlying permafrost is termed the permafrost table (Brown and Kupsch 1974). In Antarctica, the thickness of the active layer estimated from soil thermistors varies from zero to a few centimeters in the coldest high elevations of the Transantarctic Mountains, and up to > 5 m in bedrock sites of the Antarctic Peninsula (Hrbáček et al 2023). As a general trend, active layer thickness decreases with increasing elevation and continentality (Adlam et al 2010;Hrbáček et al 2023).…”

Section: Active Layer and Ice Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Antarctica, the thickness of the active layer estimated from soil thermistors varies from zero to a few centimeters in the coldest high elevations of the Transantarctic Mountains, and up to > 5 m in bedrock sites of the Antarctic Peninsula (Hrbáček et al 2023). As a general trend, active layer thickness decreases with increasing elevation and continentality (Adlam et al 2010;Hrbáček et al 2023). Permafrost has also been defined as ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive year (Muller 1945).…”

Section: Active Layer and Ice Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Permafrost: Volume 2 (Conference Papers)

2024

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Developments in Permafrost Science and Engineering in Response to Climate Warming in Circumpolar and High Mountain Regions, 2019–2024

Burn,

Bartsch,

Chakraborty

et al. 2024

Permafrost & Periglacial

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Research in geocryology is currently principally concerned with the effects of climate change on permafrost terrain. The motivations for most of the research are (1) quantification of the anticipated net emissions of CO2 and CH4 from warming and thaw of near‐surface permafrost and (2) mitigation of effects on infrastructure of such warming and thaw. Some of the effects, such as increases in ground temperature or active‐layer thickness, have been observed for several decades. Landforms that are sensitive to creep deformation are moving more quickly as a result, and Rock Glacier Velocity is now part of the Essential Climate Variable Permafrost of the Global Climate Observing System. Other effects, for example, the occurrence of physical disturbances associated with thawing permafrost, particularly the development of thaw slumps, have noticeably increased since 2010. Still, others, such as erosion of sedimentary permafrost coasts, have accelerated. Geochemical effects in groundwater from trace elements, including contaminants, and those that issue from the release of sediment particles during mass wasting have become evident since 2020. Net release of CO2 and CH4 from thawing permafrost is anticipated within two decades and, worldwide, may reach emissions that are equivalent to a large industrial economy. The most immediate local concerns are for waste disposal pits that were constructed on the premise that permafrost would be an effective and permanent containment medium. This assumption is no longer valid at many contaminated sites. The role of ground ice in conditioning responses to changes in the thermal or hydrological regimes of permafrost has re‐emphasized the importance of regional conditions, particularly landscape history, when applying research results to practical problems.

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Active layer and permafrost thermal regimes in the ice-free areas of Antarctica

Cited by 15 publications

References 188 publications

Variability of soil moisture on three sites in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula in 2022/23

Variability of soil moisture on three sites in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula in 2022/23

Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Permafrost: Volume 2 (Conference Papers)

Developments in Permafrost Science and Engineering in Response to Climate Warming in Circumpolar and High Mountain Regions, 2019–2024

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