Heterogeneity of Yedoma Ice Complex deposits due to regional genesis processes

• Main Authors: Windirsch, Torben, Grosse, Guido, Ulrich, Mathias, Schirrmeister, Lutz, Fedorov, A., Konstantinov, Pavel, Fuchs, Matthias, Jongejans, Loeka L., Strauss, Jens
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Arctic; Climate change; Global warming; Ice; permafrost; Yakutia
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/50172/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/50172/1/Windirsch_2019_YES_poster_YedomaHeterogeneity.pdf; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.fc5fd55d-6842-47a4-abef-bc3c5ccb611e; https://hdl.handle.net/

Yedoma Ice Complex is a type of permafrost characterized by high ice content and carbon content of approx. 2 wt%. The high ice content makes it very vulnerable to thawing in terms of global warming. Previously stored organic material becomes available for microbial decomposition, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. But Yedoma deposits might be more heterogenous than previously thought. This is indicated by findings from the Yukechi Alas landscape in Central Yakutia where Yedoma deposits with a lack of carbon for several meters are found. Analysis reveals shifts in regional sedimentary processes as a plausible solution to the found heterogenity, making it important to further investigate the composition of Yedoma Ice Complex deposits throughout the arctic. Such heterogenity may change the proposed amount of carbon stored in those deposits but may as well have effects on thaw behaviour and vulnerability to climate warming. Therefore, more information is needed on the scope of such regional influences in order to increase knowledge about the effects of thawing Yedoma on climate change.