Assessing TanDEM-X-Derived Digital Elevation Models for Monitoring Rapid Permafrost Thaw: A Case Study in the Mackenzie River Delta ...

• Main Authors: Maier, Kathrin, Bernhard, Philipp, Hajnsek, Irena
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: ETH Zurich 2023
• Subjects: Permafrost; Retrogressive Thaw Slumps; DEM; infoeu-repo/classification/ddc/550; Earth sciences; Arctic; Ice; Mackenzie river; permafrost; Thermokarst
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000655439; http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/655439

Permafrost is a common characteristic of Arctic landscapes, where it refers to ground that remains at or below 0 °C for a duration of at least two consecutive years. Permafrost underlies approximately 15 % of the landmass in the Northern Hemisphere and is becoming more susceptible to rapid thawing as the climate continues to warm (Obu et al. 2019). When ice-rich permafrost thaws it can alter the surface characteristics of a landscape which is commonly referred to as thermokarst. Retrogressive Thaw Slumps (RTS) are emerging as one of the most dynamic types of thermokarst, varying strongly in shape and thawing behavior. The prevalence and distribution of rapid thaw on a pan-Arctic scale are not well understood and so is its potential contribution in the Arctic carbon-climate feedback (Kokelj et al. 2009). High-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are a valuable tool for monitoring surface characteristics of thermokarst features and track changes over time, which in turn improves our understanding of ...