Spatial distribution and controls of permafrost development in non-glacial Arctic catchment over the Holocene, Fuglebekken, SW Spitsbergen

Abstract

This article presents the distribution and properties of the permafrost based on electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) data collected at the Fuglebekken coastal catchment area in SW Spitsbergen. This work summarizes the development of permafrost in this area during the Holocene, from the mountain environment through to the system of elevated marine terraces found around the coast. The ERT models were analysed taking into consideration the non-unique nature of the data inversion process and the physical limitations of this method. Comparing the ERT and the MASW results allows a zonal characterization of the occurring ice-bearing permafrost and its correlation with the evolution history of the catchment area. Maritime transgression as well as intensive watercourses during past degradation episodes have altered the permafrost presence and ice-accumulating abilities of different sediment zones. Permafrost development depends greatly on the presence of surface watercourses in talus slopes. The youngest elevated uplifted marine terrace did not develop an ice-rich permafrost, but the presence of permafrost in a cryotic form is possible. The significant range of the fjord water infiltration found within the sedimentary cover have influenced the development of the coastal permafrost. The current structure of ice-bearing permafrost found in the research area seems to be very sensitive to the climatic changes. Based on these results, we propose a model for the formation of the current permafrost in the studied area.