Hummocks in alpine tundra, northern British Columbia, Canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition
Hummocks develop by cryoturbation in fine-grained frost-susceptible soils and their stage of maturity may affect the translocation of organics in Cryosols. This study examines the distribution and morphology of hummocks in the Chuck Creek Trail Valley (northern British Columbia) and determines the q...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:0ebe2aa29517480b9480e3de7e4eda5b 2023-05-15T14:23:41+02:00 Hummocks in alpine tundra, northern British Columbia, Canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition Marjolaine Verret Yifeng Wang Jean Bjornson Denis Lacelle 2019-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2018-0021 https://doaj.org/article/0ebe2aa29517480b9480e3de7e4eda5b EN FR eng fre Canadian Science Publishing https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2018-0021 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2018-0021 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/0ebe2aa29517480b9480e3de7e4eda5b Arctic Science, Vol 5, Iss 3, Pp 127-147 (2019) cryoturbation organic carbon permafrost subarctic Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2018-0021 2022-12-31T05:29:07Z Hummocks develop by cryoturbation in fine-grained frost-susceptible soils and their stage of maturity may affect the translocation of organics in Cryosols. This study examines the distribution and morphology of hummocks in the Chuck Creek Trail Valley (northern British Columbia) and determines the quantity, distribution, and composition of organic matter in their soils. Hummocks occupy about 5%–20% of the valley and their morphology is largely affected by their silt content. Cryoturbated intrusions, radiocarbon dated to 2814 and 1648 cal year B.P., suggest that hummock development was initiated during the cooler late Holocene. Hummocks have an average soil organic carbon density of 16.3 kg m−2 in the uppermost 1 m, with 62% stored in the top 25 cm. Organics are mainly present as particulate organic matter in the O-horizon (25%–80%), characterized by degradable alkyl C and O/N-alkyl groups, but occur as mineral-associated organic matter (96%–98%) composed of recalcitrant aromatic and aliphatic C groups in the underlying B and C horizons. Minor differences in organic content and composition occur between hummock tops and troughs, and between hummocks showing different stages of maturity. In the absence of an observed frost table, contemporary hummock activity is attributed to seasonal freezing and thawing. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic permafrost Subarctic Tundra Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada British Columbia ENVELOPE(-125.003,-125.003,54.000,54.000) Chuck Creek ENVELOPE(-136.587,-136.587,59.699,59.699) Arctic Science 5 3 127 147 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English French |
topic |
cryoturbation organic carbon permafrost subarctic Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
spellingShingle |
cryoturbation organic carbon permafrost subarctic Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 Marjolaine Verret Yifeng Wang Jean Bjornson Denis Lacelle Hummocks in alpine tundra, northern British Columbia, Canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition |
topic_facet |
cryoturbation organic carbon permafrost subarctic Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
description |
Hummocks develop by cryoturbation in fine-grained frost-susceptible soils and their stage of maturity may affect the translocation of organics in Cryosols. This study examines the distribution and morphology of hummocks in the Chuck Creek Trail Valley (northern British Columbia) and determines the quantity, distribution, and composition of organic matter in their soils. Hummocks occupy about 5%–20% of the valley and their morphology is largely affected by their silt content. Cryoturbated intrusions, radiocarbon dated to 2814 and 1648 cal year B.P., suggest that hummock development was initiated during the cooler late Holocene. Hummocks have an average soil organic carbon density of 16.3 kg m−2 in the uppermost 1 m, with 62% stored in the top 25 cm. Organics are mainly present as particulate organic matter in the O-horizon (25%–80%), characterized by degradable alkyl C and O/N-alkyl groups, but occur as mineral-associated organic matter (96%–98%) composed of recalcitrant aromatic and aliphatic C groups in the underlying B and C horizons. Minor differences in organic content and composition occur between hummock tops and troughs, and between hummocks showing different stages of maturity. In the absence of an observed frost table, contemporary hummock activity is attributed to seasonal freezing and thawing. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Marjolaine Verret Yifeng Wang Jean Bjornson Denis Lacelle |
author_facet |
Marjolaine Verret Yifeng Wang Jean Bjornson Denis Lacelle |
author_sort |
Marjolaine Verret |
title |
Hummocks in alpine tundra, northern British Columbia, Canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition |
title_short |
Hummocks in alpine tundra, northern British Columbia, Canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition |
title_full |
Hummocks in alpine tundra, northern British Columbia, Canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition |
title_fullStr |
Hummocks in alpine tundra, northern British Columbia, Canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hummocks in alpine tundra, northern British Columbia, Canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition |
title_sort |
hummocks in alpine tundra, northern british columbia, canada: distribution, morphology and organic carbon composition |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2018-0021 https://doaj.org/article/0ebe2aa29517480b9480e3de7e4eda5b |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-125.003,-125.003,54.000,54.000) ENVELOPE(-136.587,-136.587,59.699,59.699) |
geographic |
Canada British Columbia Chuck Creek |
geographic_facet |
Canada British Columbia Chuck Creek |
genre |
Arctic permafrost Subarctic Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic permafrost Subarctic Tundra |
op_source |
Arctic Science, Vol 5, Iss 3, Pp 127-147 (2019) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2018-0021 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2018-0021 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/0ebe2aa29517480b9480e3de7e4eda5b |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2018-0021 |
container_title |
Arctic Science |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
127 |
op_container_end_page |
147 |
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1766296175483289600 |