An Arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures
Arctic river deltas define the interface between the terrestrial Arctic and the Arctic Ocean. They are the site of sediment, nutrient, and soil organic carbon discharge to the Arctic Ocean. Arctic deltas are unique globally because they are underlain by permafrost and acted on by river and sea ice,...
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:esurf103055 2023-06-06T11:49:01+02:00 An Arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures Chan, Ngai-Ham Langer, Moritz Juhls, Bennet Rettelbach, Tabea Overduin, Paul Huppert, Kimberly Braun, Jean 2023-04-12 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-259-2023 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/11/259/2023/ eng eng doi:10.5194/esurf-11-259-2023 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/11/259/2023/ eISSN: 2196-632X Text 2023 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-259-2023 2023-04-17T16:23:11Z Arctic river deltas define the interface between the terrestrial Arctic and the Arctic Ocean. They are the site of sediment, nutrient, and soil organic carbon discharge to the Arctic Ocean. Arctic deltas are unique globally because they are underlain by permafrost and acted on by river and sea ice, and many are surrounded by a broad shallow ramp. Such ramps may buffer the delta from waves, but as the climate warms and permafrost thaws, the evolution of Arctic deltas will likely take a different course, with implications for both the local scale and the wider Arctic Ocean. One important way to understand and predict the evolution of Arctic deltas is through numerical models. Here we present ArcDelRCM.jl, an improved reduced-complexity model (RCM) of arctic delta evolution based on the DeltaRCM-Arctic model ( Lauzon et al. , 2019 ) , which we have reconstructed in Julia language using published information. Unlike previous models, ArcDelRCM.jl is able to replicate the ramp around the delta. We have found that the delayed breakup of the so-called “bottom-fast ice” (i.e. ice that is in direct contact with the bed of the channel or the sea, also known as “bed-fast ice”) on and around the deltas is ultimately responsible for the appearance of the ramp feature in our models. However, changes made to the modelling of permafrost erosion and the protective effects of bottom-fast ice are also important contributors. Graph analyses of the delta network performed on ensemble runs show that deltas produced by ArcDelRCM.jl have more interconnected channels and contain less abandoned subnetworks. This may suggest a more even feeding of sediments to all sections of the delta shoreline, supporting ramp growth. Moreover, we showed that the morphodynamic processes during the summer months remain active enough to contribute significant sediment input to the growth and evolution of Arctic deltas and thus should not be neglected in simulations gauging the multi-year evolution of delta features. Finally, we tested a strong ... Text Arctic Arctic Ocean Ice permafrost Sea ice Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Arctic Arctic Ocean The Ramp ENVELOPE(-38.305,-38.305,-53.990,-53.990) Earth Surface Dynamics 11 2 259 285 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
op_collection_id |
ftcopernicus |
language |
English |
description |
Arctic river deltas define the interface between the terrestrial Arctic and the Arctic Ocean. They are the site of sediment, nutrient, and soil organic carbon discharge to the Arctic Ocean. Arctic deltas are unique globally because they are underlain by permafrost and acted on by river and sea ice, and many are surrounded by a broad shallow ramp. Such ramps may buffer the delta from waves, but as the climate warms and permafrost thaws, the evolution of Arctic deltas will likely take a different course, with implications for both the local scale and the wider Arctic Ocean. One important way to understand and predict the evolution of Arctic deltas is through numerical models. Here we present ArcDelRCM.jl, an improved reduced-complexity model (RCM) of arctic delta evolution based on the DeltaRCM-Arctic model ( Lauzon et al. , 2019 ) , which we have reconstructed in Julia language using published information. Unlike previous models, ArcDelRCM.jl is able to replicate the ramp around the delta. We have found that the delayed breakup of the so-called “bottom-fast ice” (i.e. ice that is in direct contact with the bed of the channel or the sea, also known as “bed-fast ice”) on and around the deltas is ultimately responsible for the appearance of the ramp feature in our models. However, changes made to the modelling of permafrost erosion and the protective effects of bottom-fast ice are also important contributors. Graph analyses of the delta network performed on ensemble runs show that deltas produced by ArcDelRCM.jl have more interconnected channels and contain less abandoned subnetworks. This may suggest a more even feeding of sediments to all sections of the delta shoreline, supporting ramp growth. Moreover, we showed that the morphodynamic processes during the summer months remain active enough to contribute significant sediment input to the growth and evolution of Arctic deltas and thus should not be neglected in simulations gauging the multi-year evolution of delta features. Finally, we tested a strong ... |
format |
Text |
author |
Chan, Ngai-Ham Langer, Moritz Juhls, Bennet Rettelbach, Tabea Overduin, Paul Huppert, Kimberly Braun, Jean |
spellingShingle |
Chan, Ngai-Ham Langer, Moritz Juhls, Bennet Rettelbach, Tabea Overduin, Paul Huppert, Kimberly Braun, Jean An Arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures |
author_facet |
Chan, Ngai-Ham Langer, Moritz Juhls, Bennet Rettelbach, Tabea Overduin, Paul Huppert, Kimberly Braun, Jean |
author_sort |
Chan, Ngai-Ham |
title |
An Arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures |
title_short |
An Arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures |
title_full |
An Arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures |
title_fullStr |
An Arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures |
title_full_unstemmed |
An Arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures |
title_sort |
arctic delta reduced-complexity model and its reproduction of key geomorphological structures |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-259-2023 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/11/259/2023/ |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-38.305,-38.305,-53.990,-53.990) |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean The Ramp |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean The Ramp |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Ice permafrost Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Ice permafrost Sea ice |
op_source |
eISSN: 2196-632X |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/esurf-11-259-2023 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/11/259/2023/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-259-2023 |
container_title |
Earth Surface Dynamics |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
259 |
op_container_end_page |
285 |
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1767954552553734144 |