Vegetation canopy and radiation controls on permafrost plateau evolution within the discontinuous permafrost zone, Northwest Territories, Canada

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
This study examines the links between the spatial distribution of three-dimensional vegetation structural characteristics and historical permafrost plateau area changes using airborne light detection and ranging and aerial photography. The results show that vegetation is prone to reduced canopy fractional cover and reduced canopy heights at the edges of plateaus. Increased incident shortwave radiation may result in augmented thawing of permafrost and increased meltwater runoff, which further inhibits vegetation and permafrost persistence. Edge influences on ground thaw cause vegetation to die over several years (confirmed using historical aerial photography), thereby exacerbating thaw and plateau area reduction. Permafrost degradation is also evidenced by the increasingly fragmented characteristics of the landscape.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2011, vol. 22, n°. 3, p. 199-213, nombre de pages : 15, Références bibliographiques : 35 ref.

Date :
2011

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley