Biogeochemical and geocryological characteristics of wedge and thermokarst-cave ice in the CRREL permafrost tunnel, Alaska

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

DOUGLAS, T.A.

Cold Regions Research and Engineering, Alaska, Fort Wainwright, Etats-Unis

FORTIER, D.

Inst. of Northern Engineering, Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, Etats-Unis

SHUR, Y.L.

Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, Etats-Unis

KANEVSKIY, M.Z.

Inst. of Northern Engineering, Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, Etats-Unis

GUO, L.

Univ. of Southern Mississippi, Dep. of Marine Science, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, Etats-Unis

CAI, Y.

Univ. College of Oceanography and Environmental Science, Fujian, Xiamen, Chine

BRAY, M.T.

Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, Etats-Unis

Description :
Partially eroded ice wedges and lenticularly shaped bodies of massive thermokarst-cave ice in ice-rich syngenetic permafrost (yedoma) are exposed in the CRREL tunnel near Fairbanks, Alaska. Here, the AA. report the biogeochemical characteristics of one of these thermokarst-cave ice features and four nearby ice wedges. Based on these results they present a schematic model to describe how the thermokarst-cave ice was formed and preserved and what processes led to its current biogeochemical characteristics. Current estimates of soluble solutes stored in permafrost may underestimate the total carbon and nutrient load where wedge material has been extensively replaced by surface water rich in organic carbon, nutrients or inorganic solutes.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2011, vol. 22, n°. 2, p. 120-128, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 40 ref.

Date :
2011

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

Langue :
Anglais