HIGH ARCTIC PONDS, SOMERSET ISLAND, NUNAVUT: SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATION IN SNOWCOVER AND SNOWMELT

• Main Authors: Kathy L. Young, Anna Abnizova
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: arctic wetlands; climate variability; snowcover; snowmelt model; Arctic; Nunavut; Somerset Island; Creswell Bay
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.511.5533; http://www.easternsnow.org/proceedings/2005/young.pdf

ABSTRACT: Extensive low-gradient wetlands in the Canadian High Arctic have been the focus of recent studies. These wetlands typically are composed of a variety of wetland types; for example, wet meadow patches, ponds and riparian zones. Brown and Young’s (2004, submitted) study indicated that within one large wetland system near Creswell Bay (72 43'N, 94 15'W), a variety of ponds existed; some located in a moraine area, others in bedrock, while others could be classified as coastal and associated with isostatic rebound. The amount of snow together with the timing and duration of snowmelt are important factors in defining the amount of water available for ponds at the start of the summer season and also signaling the point where runoff and vertical water losses (e.g. seepage, evaporation) start to dominate. These processes can influence the sustainability of ponds or trigger their demise through desiccation. In 2004 detailed snow surveys and snow pits were conducted of selected ponds representing these distinct geomorphological areas. The snowmelt pattern was defined using a physically-based surface energy balance model. Snowcover and melt varied between pond types located in similar ground (e.g. moraine, bedrock) as well as contrasting landscape settings (e.g. moraine vs. coastal). An examination of mid- to late summer conditions of the ponds (e.g. water table, frost table) suggest that the survival of ponds depends on more than just an initial deep snowcover. o o