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Earth Sciences

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Boise State University

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Arctic

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Arctic Landscapes In Transition: Responses To Thawing Permafrost, James P. Mcnamara Jun 2010

Arctic Landscapes In Transition: Responses To Thawing Permafrost, James P. Mcnamara

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Observations indicate that over the past several decades, geomorphic processes in the Arctic have been changing or intensifying. Coastal erosion, which currently supplies most of the sediment and carbon to the Arctic Ocean [Rachold et al., 2000], may have doubled since 1955 [Mars and Houseknecht, 2007]. Further inland, expansion of channel networks [Toniolo et al., 2009] and increased river bank erosion [Costard et al., 2007] have been attributed to warming. Lakes, ponds, and wetlands appear to be more dynamic, growing in some areas, shrinking in others, and changing distribution across lowland regions …


Sediment And Nutrient Delivery From Thermokarst Features In The Foothills Of The North Slope, Alaska: Potential Impacts On Headwater Stream Ecosystems, W. B. Bowden, M. N. Gooseff, A. Balser, A. Green, B. J. Peterson, John H. Bradford Jun 2008

Sediment And Nutrient Delivery From Thermokarst Features In The Foothills Of The North Slope, Alaska: Potential Impacts On Headwater Stream Ecosystems, W. B. Bowden, M. N. Gooseff, A. Balser, A. Green, B. J. Peterson, John H. Bradford

CGISS Publications and Presentations

Permafrost is a defining characteristic of the Arctic environment. However, climate warming is thawing permafrost in many areas leading to failures in soil structure called thermokarst. An extensive survey of a 600 km2 area in and around the Toolik Lake Natural Research Area (TLNRA) revealed at least 34 thermokarst features, two thirds of which were new since ~1980 when a high resolution aerial survey of the area was done. Most of these thermokarst features were associated with headwater streams or lakes. We have measured significantly increased sediment and nutrient loading from thermokarst features to streams in two well-studied locations …