Groundwater hydrology and stable isotope analysis of an open-system pingo in northwestern Mongolia

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

YOSHIKAWA, K.

Water and Environmental Research Center, Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, Etats-Unis

SHARKHUU, N.

Mongolian Academy of Science, Ullanbaator, Mongolie

SHARKHUU, A.

Dep. of Earth and Environmental Science, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Etats-Unis

Description :
The first record of stable isotopes through a complete sequence of ice within an open-system pingo in northwestern Mongolia indicates a complex history of ice formation and pingo growth. A continuous section of ice 32 m long was cored through the centre of Mongot Pingo, and ice cores were analysed for stable isotopes and chemical composition. Two different stable isotope patterns in separate ice sections are identified : 1) open-system freezing and 2) semi-closed system (or closed system) freezing. Discharge measurements were observed in 2009 after drilling through pingo ice to artesian sub-pingo water and compared with data collected from the same pingo in 1968. It is shown that the major mechanism for ice formation at this pingo is groundwater artesian pressure, though not continuously. Four major stages of pingo growth after 8790 yr BP are inferred.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2013, vol. 24, n°. 3, p. 175-183, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 12 ref.

Date :
2013

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

Langue :
Anglais