The importance of natural variability in lake areas on the detection of permafrost degradation : A case study in the Yukon Flats, Alaska

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

CHEN, M.

Div. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Lab., Los Alamos, Etats-Unis

ROWLAND, J.C.

Div. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Lab., Los Alamos, Etats-Unis

ALMANN, G.L.

Div. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Lab., Los Alamos, Etats-Unis

Dept. of Forest Sciences, Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, Etats-Unis

BRUMBY, S.P.

Div. of Intelligence and Space Research, National Lab., Los Alamos, Etats-Unis

Description :
In order to better understand the natural background variability of lake areas, the AA. used Landsat 7 images obtained on 11 dates from 1999 to 2002 to quantify the intra- and interannual lake area variability for a 4224 km2 study area within the Yukon Flats. Both intra- and interannual area variability in August and September were smaller than in June and July, suggesting that images from later in summer are more reliable for detecting long-term change in lake area. Variability of no-closure lakes was twice that of closed-basin lakes. For a given period, the total lake area was correlated more strongly with the water balance since the preceding October than with the water balance in the preceding 12 months. Spatial heterogeneity in the intra-annual area change of individual lakes was observed, which might be caused by different topographical, geological and permafrost characteristics around and beneath the lakes.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2013, vol. 24, n°. 3, p. 224-240, nombre de pages : 17, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2013

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

Langue :
Anglais