A map analysis of patterned‐ground along a North American Arctic Transect

Abstract

Arctic patterned‐ground features have been described individually, but never examined as parts of integrated landscape/ecosystems that vary along the Arctic climate gradient. Here we examine the complex interrelationships between patterned ground, climate, vegetation and soil along a north‐south transect through all five bioclimate subzones of the North American Arctic. We mapped the vegetation, biomass, end‐of‐summer thaw depths, and snow cover on twenty 10 × 10‐m grids. The vegetation maps illustrate the transition of vegetation types and patterns from north to south. Biomass maps showed lower biomass in the centers of patterned‐ground features than in areas between features, and increasing biomass from north to south. Thaw‐depth maps showed deeper thaw in the centers of features than between features, and shallow thaw on the north and south ends of the transect. Snow depth maps showed less snow on patterned‐ground features subject to differential frost heave compared to areas between features which did not heave, and a north‐south gradient of increasing snow depth. The maps also documented the change from small nonsorted polygons to larger nonsorted circles from north to south, and increasing pattern size with moisture. Principal components analysis revealed underlying relationships between patterned‐ground landscapes and measured vegetation and environmental variables. Climate in combination with the vegetation was the most important factor affecting patterned ground on zonal sites, but soil moisture, texture and chemistry were also important.