Observations of aeolian transport and niveo‐aeolian deposition at three lowland sites, Canadian arctic archipelago

• Published in: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Main Authors: Lewkowicz, Antoni G., Young, Kathy L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1991
• Subjects: Arctic; Canadian Arctic Archipelago; Ellesmere Island; Arctic Archipelago; Banks Island; Permafrost and Periglacial Processes; Melville Island
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430020304; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fppp.3430020304; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.3430020304

Abstract Observations of wind action were made in the late winter, spring and summer at three lowland sites located on Banks Island (1977‐79), Melville Island (1986‐87) and Ellesmere Island (1989‐90). Erosion pin measurements in north‐central Banks Island showed minimal activity on interfluves and the highest rates at a blowout site in an unvegetated sand plain. The timing of aeolian activity during the year depended on the site characteristics. Where the snow cover was incomplete in winter, either because a rugged microtopography resulted in terrain elements protruding above the surface of the snow or because sublimation of snow exposed the ground surface, aeolian transport could occur year‐round. In areas with a flatter microtopography, summer transport took place but deflation was negligible over the winter and niveo‐aeolian deposition was confined to the autumn and spring when the snow cover was patchy. Windblown sediment became spatially concentrated by denivation at some sites and was deposited on slopes as fans or layers up to 8 cm thick. In the years this occurred, the rate of deposition was greater than sediment removal by wash or other processes and, at least in the short term, the form of the slope was changed.