Disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western Arctic
The more important physical disturbances to the tundra environment are discussed with examples. Thermokarst subsidence, not thermal erosion, is shown to be the dominant result of man-induced disturbances, such as those caused by the bulldozing of seismic lines and firebreaks. It is shown that a clea...
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Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1970
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t70-054 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/t70-054 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/t70-054 2024-09-15T18:11:37+00:00 Disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western Arctic Mackay, J. Ross 1970 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t70-054 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/t70-054 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Geotechnical Journal volume 7, issue 4, page 420-432 ISSN 0008-3674 1208-6010 journal-article 1970 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/t70-054 2024-08-29T04:08:47Z The more important physical disturbances to the tundra environment are discussed with examples. Thermokarst subsidence, not thermal erosion, is shown to be the dominant result of man-induced disturbances, such as those caused by the bulldozing of seismic lines and firebreaks. It is shown that a clear distinction between thermokarst subsidence and thermal erosion is necessary, if the causes of the disturbances are to be prevented and minimized, or the results treated. The typical surface disturbance to the tundra results in a deepening of the active layer. Therefore, foreknowledge of the effect of a disturbance on deepening the active layer, together with information on the ice content of the permafrost affected, makes it possible to predict the amount of thermokarst subsidence likely to take place. Three practical examples of three types of ground disturbance are given: a fire near Inuvik, N.W.T.; a patch of vegetation trampled and killed by a dog at Garry Island, N.W.T.; and seepage down a walking trail in an ice-wedge area at Garry Island, N.W.T. The effects of the disturbances are illustrated and discussed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice Inuvik permafrost Thermokarst Tundra wedge* Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Geotechnical Journal 7 4 420 432 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
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English |
description |
The more important physical disturbances to the tundra environment are discussed with examples. Thermokarst subsidence, not thermal erosion, is shown to be the dominant result of man-induced disturbances, such as those caused by the bulldozing of seismic lines and firebreaks. It is shown that a clear distinction between thermokarst subsidence and thermal erosion is necessary, if the causes of the disturbances are to be prevented and minimized, or the results treated. The typical surface disturbance to the tundra results in a deepening of the active layer. Therefore, foreknowledge of the effect of a disturbance on deepening the active layer, together with information on the ice content of the permafrost affected, makes it possible to predict the amount of thermokarst subsidence likely to take place. Three practical examples of three types of ground disturbance are given: a fire near Inuvik, N.W.T.; a patch of vegetation trampled and killed by a dog at Garry Island, N.W.T.; and seepage down a walking trail in an ice-wedge area at Garry Island, N.W.T. The effects of the disturbances are illustrated and discussed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mackay, J. Ross |
spellingShingle |
Mackay, J. Ross Disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western Arctic |
author_facet |
Mackay, J. Ross |
author_sort |
Mackay, J. Ross |
title |
Disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western Arctic |
title_short |
Disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western Arctic |
title_full |
Disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western Arctic |
title_fullStr |
Disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western Arctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western Arctic |
title_sort |
disturbances to the tundra and forest tundra environment of the western arctic |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1970 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t70-054 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/t70-054 |
genre |
Ice Inuvik permafrost Thermokarst Tundra wedge* |
genre_facet |
Ice Inuvik permafrost Thermokarst Tundra wedge* |
op_source |
Canadian Geotechnical Journal volume 7, issue 4, page 420-432 ISSN 0008-3674 1208-6010 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/t70-054 |
container_title |
Canadian Geotechnical Journal |
container_volume |
7 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
420 |
op_container_end_page |
432 |
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1810449203552321536 |