Melt Season Research Articles

How Does the Southern Annular Mode Control Surface Melt in East Antarctica?

AbstractSurface melt in East Antarctica is strongly correlated with the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) index, but the spatiotemporal variability of the relationship, and the physical processes responsible for it, have not been examined. Here, using melt flux estimates and climate variables from the RACMO2.3p3 regional climate model, we show that a decreasing SAM index is associated with increased melt in Dronning Maud Land primarily owing to reduced precipitation and greater absorption of solar radiation. Conversely, in Wilkes Land, a decreasing SAM index corresponds to increased melt because of greater incoming longwave radiation from a warmer atmosphere. We also demonstrate that SAM‐melt correlations are strongest in December as the melt season develops, and that the SAM’s influence on peak melt intensities in January occurs indirectly through the snowmelt‐albedo feedback. Future work must account for such variability in the physical processes underlying the SAM‐melt relationship to reduce uncertainty in surface melt projections.

Velocity variations and hydrological drainage at Baltoro Glacier, Pakistan

Abstract. Glacial meltwater directly influences glacier dynamics. However, in the case of debris-covered glaciers, the drivers of glacier velocity and the influence of supraglacial lakes have not yet been sufficiently analysed and understood. We present a spatio-temporal analysis of key glacier characteristics for Baltoro Glacier in the Karakoram from October 2016 to September 2022 based on Earth observation data and climate parameters extracted from the High Asia Refined analysis (HAR) data set. For the glacier variables, we used surface velocity, supraglacial lake extent, melt of snow and ice, and proglacial run-off index. For climate variables, we focused on air temperature and precipitation. The surface velocity of Baltoro Glacier was characterized by a spring speed-up, summer peak, and fall speed-up with a relative increase in summer of 0.2–0.3 m d−1 (75 %–100 %) in relation to winter velocities, triggered by the onset of or an increase in basal sliding. Snow and ice melt have the largest impact on the spring speed-up, summer velocity peak, and the transition from inefficient to efficient subglacial drainage. The melt covered up to 64 % (353 km2) of the entirety (debris-covered and debris-free) of Baltoro Glacier and reached up to 4700 m a.s.l. during the first melt peak and up to 5600 m a.s.l. during summer. The temporal delay between the initial peak of seasonal melt and the first relative velocity maximum decreases downglacier. Drainage from supraglacial lakes (3.6–5.9 km2) contributed to the fall speed-up, which showed a 0.1–0.2 m d−1 (20 %–30 %) lower magnitude compared to the summer velocity peak. Most of the run-off can be attributed to the melt of snow and ice. However, from mid-June onward, the lakes play an increasing role, even though their contribution is estimated to be only about half of that of the melt. The observed increase in summer air temperatures leads to a greater extent of melt, as well as to a rise in the number and total area of supraglacial lakes. This tendency is expected to intensify in a future warming climate.

Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations

AbstractAufeis (also known as icings) are large sheet‐like masses of layered ice that form in river channels in arctic environments in the winter as groundwater discharges to the land surface and subsequently freezes. Aufeis are important sources of water for Arctic river ecosystems, bolstering late summer river discharge and providing habitat for caribou escaping insect harassment. The aim of this research is to use numerical simulations to evaluate a conceptual model of subsurface hydrogeothermal conditions that can lead to the formation of aufeis. We used a conceptual model based on geophysical data from the Kuparuk aufeis field on the North Slope of Alaska to develop a two‐dimensional heterogeneous vertical profile model of groundwater flow, heat transport, and freeze/thaw dynamics. Modelling results showed that groundwater can flow to the land surface through subvertical high permeability pathways during winter months when the lower permeability soils near the land surface are frozen. The groundwater discharge can freeze on the surface, contributing to aufeis formation throughout the winter. We performed sensitivity analyses on subsurface properties and surface temperature and found that aufeis formation is most sensitive to the volume of unfrozen water available in the subsurface and the rate at which the subsurface water travels to the land surface. Although a trend of warming air temperatures will lead to a greater volume of unfrozen subsurface water, the aufeis volume can be reduced under warming conditions if the period of time for which air temperatures are below freezing is reduced.

Alpine glacier algal bloom during a record melt year.

Glacier algal blooms dominate the surfaces of glaciers and ice sheets during summer melt seasons, with larger blooms anticipated in years that experience the greatest melt. Here, we characterize the glacier algal bloom proliferating on Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland, during the record 2022 melt season, when the Swiss Alps lost three times more ice than the decadal average. Glacier algal cellular abundance (cells ml-1), biovolume (μm3 cell-1), photophysiology (Fv/Fm, rETRmax), and stoichiometry (C:N ratios) were constrained across three elevations on Morteratsch glacier during late August 2022 and compared with measurements of aqueous geochemistry and outputs of nutrient spiking experiments. While a substantial glacier algal bloom was apparent during summer 2022, abundances ranged from 1.78 × 104 to 8.95 × 105 cells ml-1 of meltwater and did not scale linearly with the magnitude of the 2022 melt season. Instead, spatiotemporal heterogeneity in algal distribution across Morteratsch glacier leads us to propose melt-water-redistribution of (larger) glacier algal cells down-glacier and presumptive export of cells from the system as an important mechanism to set overall bloom carrying capacity on steep valley glaciers during high melt years. Despite the paradox of abundant glacier algae within seemingly oligotrophic surface ice, we found no evidence for inorganic nutrient limitation as an important bottom-up control within our study site, supporting our hypothesis above. Fundamental physical constraints may thus cap bloom carrying-capacities on valley glaciers as 21st century melting continues.

Interannual Variability in the Onset Time Distribution of the Open Water in the Kara Sea

Abstract Open water in ice-covered oceans is an essential condition for shipping and resource exploitation. We investigate the interannual and spatial variations of the open water onset time in the Kara Sea (KS) and the underlying mechanisms through analyzing satellite-based observations and model simulation results. The empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis on the satellite sea ice concentration during 1979–2020 reveals two primary spatial distribution patterns of the open water onset time. The first mode EOF1 shows the coherent advance or delay of the open water onset time within the KS, which is consistent with the multiyear-averaged state. The second mode EOF2 exhibits a seesaw pattern between the southwest and middle regions, which represents the regional difference of the open water onset time within the KS. In 1997 with significant anomaly in EOF2, analysis of the model simulation reveals that the strong easterly wind-induced ice transport is the main reason for the earlier opening in the middle region and delayed opening in the southwestern region. When compared with the multiyear-averaged state, this dynamic process causes a noticeable redistribution of local sea ice in the early melting season (May to June), with much more ice in the southwestern region, thence influences the regional onset time of open water. A similar situation also occurred in the years 1985, 2001, and 2004, as these years presented stronger easterly wind energy accumulated over May to June, which cause earlier opening in the middle region and later opening in the southwestern region. Significance Statement Variability of the open water in the Arctic Ocean has a significant impact on climate and ecosystem variability and also human activities. This study focuses on understanding why the onset time of open water was asynchronous over the Kara Sea. Generally, the open water first forms in the western region of the Kara Sea under the influences of warm inflow from the Barents Sea and river runoff. However, when strong easterly winds prevail across the whole region at the beginning of the melting season, sea ice is transported from east to west, resulting in the advanced opening in the middle and delayed opening in the southwest regions. This finding points out that wind can combine with surface and lateral heat fluxes to influence the interannual variability in the distribution of the open water onset time in the Kara Sea.

Degradation of ice-wedge polygons leads to increased fluxes of water and DOC

Ice-wedge polygon landscapes make up a substantial part of high-latitude permafrost landscapes. The hydrological conditions shape how these landscapes store and release organic carbon. However, their coupled water‑carbon dynamics are poorly understood as field measurements are sparse in smaller catchments and coupled hydrology-dissolved organic carbon (DOC) models are not tailored for these landscapes. Here we present a model that simulates the hydrology and associated DOC export of high-centered and low-centered ice-wedge polygons and apply the model to a small catchment with abundant polygon coverage along the Yukon Coast, Canada. The modeled seasonal pattern of water and carbon fluxes aligns with sparse field data. These modeled seasonal patterns indicate that early-season runoff is mostly surficial and generated by low-centered polygons and snow trapped in troughs of high-centered polygons. High-centered polygons show potential for deeper subsurface flow under future climate conditions. This suggests that high-centered polygons will be responsible for an increasing proportion of annual DOC export compared to low-centered polygons. Warming likely shifts low-centered polygons to high-centered polygons, and our model shows that this shift will cause a deepening of the active layer and a lengthening of the thawing season. This, in turn, intensifies seasonal runoff and DOC flux, mainly through its duration. Our model provides a physical hypothesis that can be used to further quantify and refine our understanding of hydrology and DOC export of arctic ice-wedge polygon terrain.

Evaluation of satellite methods for estimating supraglacial lake depth in southwest Greenland

Abstract. Supraglacial lakes form on the Greenland ice sheet in the melt season (May to October) when meltwater collects in surface depressions on the ice. Supraglacial lakes can act as a control on ice dynamics since, given a large enough volume of water and a favourable stress regime, hydrofracture of the lake can occur, which enables water transfer from the ice surface to the bedrock, where it can lubricate the base. The depth (and thus volume) of these lakes is typically estimated by applying a radiative transfer equation (RTE) to optical satellite imagery. This method can be used at scale across entire ice sheets but is poorly validated due to a paucity of in situ depth data. Here we intercompare supraglacial lake depth detection by means of ArcticDEM digital elevation models, ICESat-2 photon refraction, and the RTE applied to Sentinel-2 images across five lakes in southwest Greenland. We found good agreement between the ArcticDEM and ICESat-2 approaches (Pearson's r=0.98) but found that the RTE overestimates lake depth by up to 153 % using the green band (543–578 nm) and underestimates lake depth by up to 63 % using the red band (650–680 nm). Parametric uncertainty in the RTE estimates is substantial and is dominated by uncertainty in estimates of reflectance at the lakebed, which are derived empirically. Uncertainty in lake depth estimates translates into a poor understanding of total lake volume, which could mean that hydrofracture likelihood is poorly constrained, in turn affecting ice velocity predictions. Further laboratory studies to constrain spectral radiance loss in the water column and investigation of the potential effects of cryoconite on lakebed reflectance could improve the RTE in its current format. However, we also suggest that future work should explore multi-sensor approaches to deriving lake depth from optical satellite imagery, which may improve depth estimates and will certainly result in better-constrained uncertainties.

The application and modification of WRF-Hydro/Glacier to a cold-based Antarctic glacier

Abstract. The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) are home to a unique microbial ecosystem that is dependent on the availability of freshwater. This is a polar desert and freshwater originates almost entirely from surface and near-surface melt of the cold-based glaciers. Understanding the future evolution of these environments requires the simulation of the full chain of physical processes from net radiative forcing, surface energy balance, melt, runoff and transport of meltwater in stream channels from the glaciers to the terminal lakes where the microbial community resides. To establish a new framework to do this, we present the first application of WRF-Hydro/Glacier in the MDV, which as a fully distributed hydrological model has the capability to resolve the streams from the glaciers to the bare land that surround them. Given that meltwater generation in the MDV is almost entirely dependent on small changes in the energy balance of the glaciers, the aim of this study is to optimize the multi-layer snowpack scheme that is embedded in WRF-Hydro/Glacier to ensure that the feedbacks between albedo, snowfall and melt are fully resolved. To achieve this, WRF-Hydro/Glacier is implemented at a point scale using automatic weather station data on Commonwealth Glacier to physically model the onset, duration and end of melt over a 7-month period (1 August 2021 to 28 February 2022). To resolve the limited energetics controlling melt, it was necessary to (1) limit the percolation of meltwater through the ice layers in the multi-layer snowpack scheme and (2) optimize the parameters controlling the albedo of both snow and ice over the melt season based on observed spectral signatures of albedo. These modifications enabled the variability of broadband albedo over the melt season to be accurately simulated and ensured that modelled surface and near-surface temperatures, surface height change and runoff were fully resolved. By establishing a new framework that couples a detailed snowpack model to a fully distributed hydrological model, this work provides a stepping stone to model the spatial and temporal variability of melt and streamflow in the future, which will enable some of the unknown questions about the hydrological connectivity of the MDV to be answered.

Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchment

Glacial groundwater can mobilize deep-seated methane from beneath glaciers and permafrost in the Arctic, leading to atmospheric emissions of this greenhouse gas. We present a temporal, hydro-chemical dataset of methane-rich groundwater collected during two melt seasons from a high Arctic glacial forefield to explore the seasonal dynamics of methane emissions. We use methane and ion concentrations and the isotopic composition of water and methane to investigate the sources of groundwater and the origin of the methane that the groundwater transports to the surface. Our results suggest two sources of groundwater, one shallow and one deep, which mix, and moderate methane dynamics. During summer, deep methane-rich groundwater is diluted by shallow oxygenated groundwater, leading to some microbial methane oxidation prior to its emergence at the surface. Characterization of the microbial compositions in the groundwater shows that microbial activity is an important seasonal methane sink along this flow-path. In the groundwater pool studied, we found that potential methane emissions were reduced by an average of 29% (±14%) throughout the summer due to microbial oxidation. During winter, deep groundwater remains active while many shallow systems shut down due to freezing, reducing subsurface methane oxidation, and potentially permitting larger methane emissions. Our results suggest that ratios of the different groundwater sources will change in the future as aquifer capacities and recharge volumes increase in a warming climate.

Hydrology Controls Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Export and Post‐Storm Recovery in Two Arctic Headwaters

AbstractClimate change is rapidly altering hydrological processes and consequently the structure and functioning of Arctic ecosystems. Predicting how these alterations will shape biogeochemical responses in rivers remains a major challenge. We measured [C]arbon and [N]itrogen concentrations continuously from two Arctic watersheds capturing a wide range of flow conditions to assess understudied event‐scale C and N concentration‐discharge (C‐Q) behavior and post‐event recovery of stoichiometric conditions. The watersheds represent low‐gradient, tundra landscapes typical of the eastern Brooks Range on the North Slope of Alaska and are part of the Arctic Long‐Term Ecological Research sites: the Kuparuk River and Oksrukuyik Creek. In both watersheds, we deployed high‐frequency optical sensors to measure dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrate (), and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) for five consecutive thaw seasons (2017–2021). Our analyses revealed a lag in DOC: stoichiometric recovery after a hydrologic perturbation: while DOC was consistently elevated after high flows, diluted during rainfall events and consequently, recovery in post‐event concentration was delayed. Conversely, the co‐enrichment of TDN at high flows, even in watersheds with relatively high N‐demand, represents a potential “leak” of hydrologically available organic N to downstream ecosystems. Our use of high‐frequency, long‐term optical sensors provides an improved method to estimate carbon and nutrient budgets and stoichiometric recovery behavior across event and seasonal timescales, enabling new insights and conceptualizations of a changing Arctic, such as assessing ecosystem disturbance and recovery across multiple timescales.

Modeled variations in the inherent optical properties of summer Arctic ice and their effects on the radiation budget: a case based on ice cores from 2008 to 2016

Abstract. Variations in Arctic sea ice are apparent not only in its extent and thickness but also in its internal properties under global warming. The microstructure of summer Arctic sea ice changes due to varying external forces, ice age, and extended melting seasons, which affect its optical properties. Sea ice cores sampled in the Pacific sector of the Arctic obtained by the Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) during the summers of 2008 to 2016 were used to estimate the variations in the microstructures and inherent optical properties (IOPs) of ice and determine the radiation budget of sea ice based on a radiative transfer model. The variations in the volume fraction of gas bubbles (Va) of the ice top layer were not significant, and the Va of the ice interior layer was significant. Compared with 2008, the mean Va of interior ice in 2016 decreased by 9.1 %. Meanwhile, the volume fraction of brine pockets increased clearly during 2008–2016. The changing microstructure resulted in the scattering coefficient of the interior ice decreasing by 38.4 % from 2008 to 2016, while no clear variations can be seen in the scattering coefficient of the ice top layer. These estimated ice IOPs fell within the range of other observations. Furthermore, we found that variations in interior ice were significantly related to the interannual changes in ice ages. At the Arctic basin scale, the changing IOPs of interior ice greatly changed the amount of solar radiation transmitted to the upper ocean even when a constant ice thickness is assumed, especially for thin ice in marginal zones, implying the presence of different sea ice bottom melt processes. These findings revealed the important role of the changing microstructure and IOPs of ice in affecting the radiation transfer of Arctic sea ice.

Propagating speedups during quiescence escalate to the 2020–2021 surge of Sít’ Kusá, southeast Alaska

Abstract We use satellite image processing techniques to measure surface elevation and velocity changes on a temperate surging glacier, Sít’ Kusá, throughout its entire 2013–2021 surge cycle. We present detailed records of its dynamic changes during quiescence (2013–2019) and its surge progression (2020–2021). Throughout quiescence, we observe order-of-magnitude speedups that propagate down-glacier seasonally from the glacier's upper northern tributary, above a steep icefall, into the reservoir zone for the surging portion of the glacier. The speedups initiate in fall and gradually accelerate through winter until they peak in late spring, ~1 − 2 months after the onset of melt. Propagation distance of the speedups controls the distribution of mass accumulation in the reservoir zone prior to the surge. Furthermore, the intensity and propagation distance of each year's speedup is correlated with the positive degree day sum from the preceding melt season, suggesting that winter melt storage drives the seasonal speedups. We demonstrate that the speedups are kinematically similar to the 2020–2021 surge, differing mainly in that the surge propagates past the dynamic balance line at the lower limit of the reservoir zone, likely triggered by the exceedance of a tipping point in mass accumulation and basal enthalpy in the reservoir zone.

Seasonal spatial-temporal variability in radar penetration depth

A fully automated processing system for measuring long-term ground deformation time series and deformation rates frame-by-frame using the Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) processing technique was developed and tested. Among the several factors that affect DInSAR’s precision, such as temporal decorrelation and atmospheric noise, it was observed that seasonal spatial-temporal variability in radar penetration depth is the greatest contributor to the loss of precision of the long-term deformation rate measurement. This spatial-temporal signal is described for a specific region in the northern US; however, it is widely observed in multiple regions. In these regions, a gradual penetration depth increase is observed in fall and winter, and an abrupt penetration depth decrease is observed in spring. The latter effect is likely caused by rapid melting of ice and snow that, at the same time, significantly reduces interferometric coherence. Within a specific geographic region, radar penetration depth spatially varies proportionally to the elevation due to an elevation-dependent temperature gradient, producing artifacts that correlate well with the topography. This signal does not extend to high-elevation regions (above ~2500 m) that do not experience seasonal thawing, which allows for distinguishing it from the topography-dependent atmospheric signals. Without accounting for the spatial-temporal variability in radar penetration depth, deformation time series in these areas can contain either an annual periodic signal with an amplitude of over 0.1 m or, if the abrupt penetration depth decrease produced by melting is not resolved due to lower coherence, an erroneous interannual trend. Spatial-temporal variability in radar penetration depth needs to be better understood and corrected to improve the precision of long-term deformation rate products, particularly in regions susceptible to seasonal freezing and thawing.

Ограничения применения колесных тракторов в технологиях растениеводства по уплотняющему воздействию (в условиях Приамурья)

The natural conditions of the Amur region are characterized by seasonal soil freezing and thawing. In winter, it freezes to a depth of 2.5 m. In July, it completely thaws. Field work on soil preparation and sowing of early grain crops begins at a time when the soil thaws by only 0.08–0.10 m. In early spring field work, a tractor with high values of normal soil pressures can be used (without limiting the operating weight). The frozen under layer saves the soil from degradation. As the soil thaws, it is necessary to adhere to the established norms of mechanical action on soil, taking into account its physical and mechanical characteristics. The purpose of research is to reduce soil compaction from mechanical effects of tractor wheel thrusters. The objective of research is to substantiate the limits of wheeled tractor use in field work according to the permissible level of sealing effect. Theoretical and empirical methods are applied using statistical processing of experimental data. The change in soil density and compaction effect index are studied depending on the normal load transmitted by wheeled tractor movers. The values of distribution of operating weight along axes, maximum loads and value of compaction effect index of running systems of domestic and imported wheeled tractors used in crop production technologies of the Amur region are given. The limits of change in soil density depending on normal load under the wheel drive are given. The dependence of compaction effect index on the operating weight of tractor, axle load, wheel formula and number of unit passes along the track is established. Recommendations on the use of wheeled tractors in field work, depending on the time of their execution are given.

Geographical and genetic features of soil formation and diversity of the permafrost soils of Central Yakutia

The aim of the study. The aim of this article was to identify the geographical and genetic features of soil formation in the cryolithozone of Central Yakutia and to assess the diversity of all types of permafrost soils of this territory. Location and time of the study. Soil-geographical and soil-genetic studies were carried out near the Middle Lena, on the territory of Central Yakutia within various geomorphological tiers of the Central Yakut Plain at different times, starting from the 1990s. Methodology. In carrying out these works, widely used methods of soil research were used, such as comparative geographical, profile genetic and comparative analytical in combination with well-known and commonly used analytical methods. At the same time, all the main results of soil studies conducted on this territory by our predecessor permafrost soil scientists were taken into account in a comparative aspect. Main results. According to the obtained results, it is necessary to state that this region of the cryolithozone is characterized by extremely peculiar landscape and climatic conditions of soil formation, the formation of the cryogenic soils occurring in a cryoarid climate, mainly on loose alluvial deposits of various ages, under forest and meadow-steppe vegetation and continuous permafrost. In the studied territory, the cryogenic soil-forming processes are crucial for the development of properties, composition and regimes of these permafrost soils, causing their high diversity and diversity of the soil cover of Central Yakutia. The systematic list of permafrost soils of the studied territory includes 17 types and 21 subtypes of soils and is forecasted to expand as the study of the soil cover of this unique region of the cryolithozone deepens. At the same time, the diversity of soils there is formed by the six types of zonal and azonal forest, five types of meadow-steppe and five intrazonal types of the permafrost soils. A broader concept of "permafrost soils" is proposed, in contrast to that interpreted in the current classification of soils of Russia and WRB, the essence of which is that regardless of the depth of seasonal thawing, all soils underlain by the permafrost are called permafrost soils. In these soils, the interlocking of seasonally and permanently frozen layers is observed in winter. These soils may differ in pronounced cryomorphic features (cryozems, fawn) or not have them (podburs, podzols, chernozems), being characterized by a permafrost type of temperature regime. Conclusion. In the cryolithozone environment of Central Yakutia, elementary soil-forming processes occur under cryogenesis conditions, which in the general hierarchy of soil-forming factors is considered at the subfactorial level; minor variations of the soil-forming factors can change the directions and rates of the soil-forming processes and, ultimately, lead to a high degree of diversity and contrast in the soil cover of the studied territory.

Assessing snow cover patterns in the Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra River Basins of the Hindu Kush Himalayas using snow persistence and snow line as metrics

This study investigates the utilization of snow persistence (SP) as a metric to assess snow cover patterns in the Upper Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra (UIGB) river basins, an area notably susceptible to climate change. The objectives of the study are to establish seasonal snow persistence, calculate seasonal snow lines, and quantify the temporal trend of snow lines. It also underscores the importance of accounting for climate zones, elevation, and seasonal variations when investigating snow persistence. Furthermore, the study estimates the snow line elevation using the Regional Snow Line Elevation (RSLE) approach with remote sensing data. Over a span of 19 years (2003–2021), the analysis of SP% in UIGB basins indicates a notable reduction in the mean annual permanent snow zone area, decreasing by -2.61 %, -2.37 %, and -4.18 % from winter (DJF) to summer (JJA). The results uncover considerable fluctuations in snow cover across various climate zones and seasons. The impact of warming is clearly visible on snow cover, instigating a transition from permanent and seasonal snow zones towards intermittent and minimal or no snow zones. The seasonal analysis of the snow line from 2003 to 2021 illustrates fluctuation in the snow line for UIGB basins, from 2349 ± 117 m to 4802 ± 51.7 m, 3003 ± 286 m to 4871 ± 64.4 m, and 3238 ± 127 m to 5047 ± 73 m between winter and summer seasons, with the most significant fluctuation occurring in the Brahmaputra basin. A substantial increase in Snow Line Elevation (SLE) is observed for Ganga (6.67 m yr−1), and Brahmaputra (7.26 m yr−1) at the conclusion of the melting season. These findings offer invaluable insights for formulating targeted mitigation strategies in the snow accumulation regions of each river basin. They equip us with the ability to respond effectively to the spatiotemporal variability of snow cover caused by climate change.

A Conditional Random Fields-Based Identification for Small Lakes Over Multiple Melt Seasons Using Sentinel-2 Imagery in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

A Conditional Random Fields-Based Identification for Small Lakes Over Multiple Melt Seasons Using Sentinel-2 Imagery in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

Статистические характеристики данных температурного мониторинга грунтовых оснований фундаментов зданий города Салехарда за 2018–2023 годы как основа для автоматизации процесса первичной обработки данных

The Arctic today is a dynamically developing territory where the construction and operation of infrastructure are complicated by the presence of permafrost. Climatic changes and anthropogenic factors have a negative impact on their condition. In this regard, studies of the current and forecast state of permafrost in natural and anthropogenic conditions are relevant, which is necessary for the formation of plans for adaptation to climate change, design and engineering surveys work, and risk ma­nagement. Monitoring the temperature regime of soils at the base of the existing infrastructure seems to be the most obvious solution for monitoring the state of permafrost. The object of the study is the soil foundation of buildings erected on permafrost. The subject of the study is data obtained using an automated soil temperature control system for the foundations of capital construction facilities in Salekhard. For the purpose of identifying negative changes in the bearing capacity of permafrost at early stages, the task of determining a set of criteria based on the analysis of temperature monitoring data and their statistical characteristics is solved. In Salekhard wells were drilled at the base of 30 buildings to the depth of the foundation, where thermometric equipment was installed. The sensors measure the soil temperature every 3 hours and transmit it to the server for analysis. As a result, the possibility of using the amplitude of annual fluctuations in the temperature of the soil base and the capacity of the seasonal melt layer under the building to assess the effectiveness of the soil thermal stabilization system is shown. By analyzing the average and maximum temperature values in the bases of objects, it is possible to identify objects with weakened zones. A set of criteria is given for identifying objects with negative changes in the frozen base, and statistical characteristics can serve as a basis for automating the process of processing monitoring data. The information obtained on the parameters of permafrost under buildings will allow us to determine the current state of the soil foundations and predict the development of the situation in order to prevent the destruction of infrastructure.

Cold climatic snaps during the Eocene-Oligocene transition in the central Tibetan Plateau: Implications for ice-induced sedimentary structures and isotope geochemistry

The Eocene-Oligocene transition was a time of major climate instability and a shift from an ice-free world to a predominant icehouse climate. Identifying the ancient glacial deposits and their associated sedimentary structures are of paramount significance for understanding the Earth's climate in the Cryogenian Period. Ice-induced sedimentary structures (IISS) are considered as types of primary structures preserved on surfaces and in upper parts of unconsolidated sediments by physical cryospheric processes of seasonal ice freezing and thawing, and therefore sensitive not only to climate, but also to paleogeography, hydrology, and type of environment. Despite the common occurrence of modern IISS in a wide variety of environments, from high-latitude regions to low-latitude areas of high altitude, available records from ancient geologic archives are scarce. Herein, we integrated sedimentological and geochemical proxies to study IISS and geochemical signals as reliable indicators of cold climate in an outstanding example of the Eocene-Oligocene interval from the Niubao Formation in the Lunpola Basin, central Tibet. Detailed field sedimentological, petrographic microscopic investigations, and bulk carbonate oxygen (δ18Ocarb) and carbon (δ13Ccarb) isotope geochemistry were conducted in this lacustrine succession. Seven sets of IISS are represented by ice crystal marks, frozen cracks, ice-frozen bubbles, ice-expanding laminae, ice-rafted debris (dropstones), ice water pea-like, and ice water pits. They are classified into three groups based on major deriving mechanisms: ice-related crystal marks, deformation-related ice structures, and gravitational fall IISS. Positive δ18Ocarb excursions at the Eocene-Oligocene transition provide evidence of a shift toward cold or near-freezing climatic snaps in response to global cooling episodes at this time. Integrating the paleogeomorphic scenario of central Tibet with the stratigraphically reported IISS and glendonite clusters, the results support that the Lunpola lake sustained cold or near-freezing conditions at Eocene-Oligocene transition. These findings provide one of the most comprehensive sedimentological and isotopic analyses of ancient IISS and a more direct spatial-temporal constraint for the regional climate system of central Tibet.

A Conceptual Model to Quantify the Water Balance Components of a Watershed in a Continuous Permafrost Region

In regions characterized by continuous permafrost, hydrological modeling remains a complex activity, primarily due to constraints related to the prevailing climatic conditions and the specific behavior of the active layer. High-latitude regions receive less solar radiation; thus, most creeks are active only during summertime and stay frozen in the winter. To realistically simulate watersheds underlain by continuous permafrost, the heat transfer through the soil needs to be accounted for in the modeling process. In this study, a watershed located in a continuous permafrost zone in Russia is investigated. A model is proposed to integrate this heat transfer into an existing conceptual rain-flow transformation model, Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV), to calculate the seasonal thaw depth and determine the components of water balance. The proposed integration is a novelty compared to the standard model, as it enables the physical and thermal properties of the soil to be taken into account. It was found that the proposed model, HBV-Heat, performs better than the stand-alone HBV model. Specifically, the average Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) increases by 30% for the whole calibration period. In terms of the water balance components, the results are consistent with previous studies, showing that surface runoff represents 64% of the observed precipitation.