Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of disturbed and undisturbed Arctic lakes, Northwest Territories ...

1. Global warming is predicted to cause changes in permafrost cover and stability in the Arctic. Zones of high ion concentration in regions of ice-rich permafrost are a reservoir of chemicals that can potentially be transferred to fresh waters during thawing. Consequently, input of enriched runoff f...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mesquita, Patricia S, Wrona, Frederick J, Prowse, Terry D
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: PANGAEA 2010
Subjects:
Ice
IPY
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.816875
https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.816875
Description
Summary:1. Global warming is predicted to cause changes in permafrost cover and stability in the Arctic. Zones of high ion concentration in regions of ice-rich permafrost are a reservoir of chemicals that can potentially be transferred to fresh waters during thawing. Consequently, input of enriched runoff from the thaw and sediment and vegetation from the landscape could alter lakes by affecting their geochemistry and biological production.2. Three undisturbed lakes and five lakes disturbed by retrogressive permafrost thaw slumps were sampled during late summer of 2006 to assess the potential effects of thermokarst shoreline slumping on water and sediment chemistry, the underwater light regime, and benthic macrophyte biomass and community structure.3. Undisturbed lakes had sediments rich in organic material and selected micronutrients, while disturbed lakes had sediments richer in calcium, magnesium and strontium, greater transparency of the water column, and a well-developed submerged macrophyte community.4. It is ... : Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150 ...