Short-term changes in thickness and temperature of the active layer in summer in the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Sobota, Ireneusz; Weckwerth, Piotr; Grajewski, Tomasz; Dziembowski, Michał; Greń, Katarzyna; Nowak, Marcin

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2017.09.014

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…A much lower mean value was recorded on the beach (126 cm). An active layer in the tundra reached on average a depth of 150 cm (Sobota et al, 2018). Climate research in the Kaffiøyra region has been conducted since 1975.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These areas are predominantly covered with dry moss and lichen tundra with communities of Saxifraga oppositifolia, Salix polaris, Sanionia uncinata, Luzula arcuata ssp. confusa, Cetrariella delisei, and Scorpidium revolvens (Sobota et al, 2018). Soil profiles S01-S06 were collected at increasing distances from the front of Waldemarbreen (soil profile S06 was located on the flat outwash fan at the foreland of the moraine ridge of Aavatsmarkbreen).…”

Section: Field Campaignmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Airborne radionuclides and heavy metals in high Arctic terrestrial environment as the indicators of sources and transfers of contamination

et al. 2019

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Abstract. A survey of airborne radioactive isotopes (137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 241Am, and 210Pb) and trace metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Fe, Al) in tundra soils and cryoconite hole material sampled from several locations in the Kaffiøyra region of Spitsbergen revealed significant variability in spatial concentration. Lithogenic radionuclides (230Th, 232Th, 234U, 238U) show less variability than the airborne radionuclides because their activity concentrations are controlled by mixing of local material derived from different types of bedrock. Activity ratios of the artificial radionuclides in most cryoconite samples differ from global fallout signatures. The contribution of radionuclides from additional and more specific sources might be enhanced by non-continuous exposure of cryoconite to atmospheric deposition. We assumed that the main source of Pu, which was detected only in cryoconite samples, is derived from nuclear tests and non-exploded weapons-grade material. Approximately one-third of the total observed Pu activity concentration is 238Pu, most likely originating from the SNAP9A satellite re-entry, which was powered by a 238Pu thermoelectric generator. In samples from Waldemarbreen the influence of glacial local morphology on the capability of cryoconite for trapping and accumulating airborne radionuclides is apparent. Local glacial morphology plays an important role in determining the accumulation of airborne pollutants. Trace metal concentrations in soils were typical or slightly higher than concentrations characteristic for the natural background; the 206Pb∕207Pb signature was also close to the natural ratio of the parent rocks. Conversely, trace metal concentrations in cryoconite samples (Pb and Cd) were higher than in soil samples and exceeded natural values. Cryoconite is an effective monitor of the spread of artificial radionuclides and heavy metals in their surrounding environment.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Field Campaignmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne radionuclides and heavy metals in high Arctic terrestrial environment as the indicators of sources and transfers of contamination

et al. 2019

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show abstract

“…A much lower mean value was recorded on the beach (126 cm). An active layer in the tundra reached on average a depth of 150 cm (Sobota et al 2018). Climate research regarding the Kaffiøyra region has been conducted since 1975.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, this area is predominantly covered with dry moss and lichen tundra with communities of Saxifraga opositifolia, Salix polaris -Sanionia uncinata, Luzula arcuata ssp. confusa -Cetrariella delisei -Scorpidium revolvens (Sobota et al 2018). Soil profiles S01-S06 were collected at increasing distances from the front of Waldemarbreen (soil profile S06 was located on the flat outwash fan at the foreland of the moraine ridge of Aavatsmarkbreen).…”

Section: Field Campaignmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne radionuclides and heavy metals in High Arctic terrestrial environment as the indicators of sources and transfers of contamination

Łokas¹,

Zaborska²,

Sobota³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Abstract. A survey of airborne radioactive isotopes (137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 241Am and 210Pb) and trace metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Fe, Al) in tundra soils and cryoconite hole material sampled from several locations in the Kaffiøyra region revealed high spatial concentration variability of the analysed samples. Lithogenic radionuclides (230Th, 232Th, 234U, 238U) show less variability than the airborne radionuclides because their activity concentrations are controlled only by mixing of weathered material derived from different bedrock. Activity ratios of the artificial radionuclides differ in most cryoconite samples from global fallout signatures. The contribution of radionuclides from other sources might be enhanced by non-continuous exposure of cryoconite to atmospheric deposition. We assumed that the main source of Pu, which is visible only in cryoconite samples, are derived from nuclear tests and non-exploded weapons-grade material. Approximately one third of the total observed Pu activity concentration is 238Pu originating from a SNAP9A satellite re-entry and subsequent injection of nuclear debris from stratosphere into troposphere. In samples from Waldemarbreen we observed the effect of glacial morphology on effective trapping and storing of airborne radionuclides. The differences in the concentrations of radionuclides between sampling points and differences in the elevation gradient from terminus towards icefall may reflect the homogenous topography of the glacier tongue. The trace metal concentrations in soils were typical or slightly higher than concentrations characteristic for natural background concentrations and the 206Pb/207Pb ratio also was close to the natural ratio for parent rocks. Conversely, trace metal concentrations in cryoconite samples (Pb and Cd) were higher than in soil samples and definitely exceeded natural values.

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“…Understanding these relationships is crucial for determining outwash fan evolution and processes of sediments transportation and deposition (Parker et al 1998a, b;Stock et al 2007;Litwin Miller et al 2014). In the case of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan, the rate of river bank erosion (related to the distributary channels' lateral incision into the permafrost) influences the lateral confined fan expansion (Sobota et al 2018). Such erosion includes thermal and mechanical erosion, which are responsible for the development of niches which generate gravitational instability in the river banks and initiate gravity flows of the sediments which comprised the upper part of the permafrost layer (Walker et al 1987;Weckwerth and Pisarska-Jamroży 2015).…”

Section: Relationships Between Confined Outwash Fan Morphology and Itmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology and surficial sediments of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan (Kaffiøyra, Svalbard)

Weckwerth

Greń

Sobota

2017

Bulletin of Geography. Physical Geography Series

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Abstract. The development and evolution of confined outwash fans in high Arctic regions depend on the rate of meltwater discharge, which is directly related to the glacier ablation rate, in turnassociated with climate conditions. Other factors controlling outwash fan morphology (e.g. depth and width of distributive channels) are processes of fluvial erosion, and the transport and deposition of sediments. These factors have not previously been considered together in relation to the evolution of the confined outwash fans which are commonly incised into the top of permafrost in the forefields of subpolar glaciers and in mountains in high Arctic regions. Morphology and surficial sediments of a confined outwash fan of the Waldemar River (NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard) were analysed on the basis of geomorphological and sedimentological studies. The results of our investigations show multiple relations between the depth and width of distributary channels, fan slope and textural features of glaciofluvial surficial sediments supplied into the fluvial system from the glacier and from lateral fluvial erosion of permafrost Morphology and surficial sediments of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan (Kaffiøyra, Svalbard)

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Short-term changes in thickness and temperature of the active layer in summer in the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Cited by 12 publications

References 20 publications

Airborne radionuclides and heavy metals in high Arctic terrestrial environment as the indicators of sources and transfers of contamination

Airborne radionuclides and heavy metals in high Arctic terrestrial environment as the indicators of sources and transfers of contamination

Airborne radionuclides and heavy metals in High Arctic terrestrial environment as the indicators of sources and transfers of contamination

Morphology and surficial sediments of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan (Kaffiøyra, Svalbard)

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