Conceptual Model of Permafrost Degradation in an Inuit Archaeological Context (Dog Island, Labrador): A Geophysical Approach
Characterizing permafrost is crucial for understanding the fate of arctic and subarctic archaeological archives under climate change. The loss of bio-physical integrity of archaeological sites in northern regions is still poorly documented, even though discontinuous permafrost is particularly vulner...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:259afaf7e9c343579af332247064da56 2024-09-15T17:34:51+00:00 Conceptual Model of Permafrost Degradation in an Inuit Archaeological Context (Dog Island, Labrador): A Geophysical Approach Rachel Labrie Najat Bhiry Dominique Todisco Cécile Finco Armelle Couillet 2024-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040095 https://doaj.org/article/259afaf7e9c343579af332247064da56 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/4/95 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-3263 doi:10.3390/geosciences14040095 2076-3263 https://doaj.org/article/259afaf7e9c343579af332247064da56 Geosciences, Vol 14, Iss 4, p 95 (2024) permafrost geophysics climate change archaeology geoarchaeology cultural heritage Geology QE1-996.5 article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040095 2024-08-05T17:49:32Z Characterizing permafrost is crucial for understanding the fate of arctic and subarctic archaeological archives under climate change. The loss of bio-physical integrity of archaeological sites in northern regions is still poorly documented, even though discontinuous permafrost is particularly vulnerable to global warming. In this study, we documented the spatial distribution of the permafrost-supported Inuit archaeological site Oakes Bay 1 on Dog Island (Labrador, Canada) while employing a novel approach in northern geoarchaeology based on non-invasive geophysical methods. ERT and GPR were successfully used to estimate active layer thickness and image permafrost spatial variability and characteristics. The results made it possible to reconstruct a conceptual model of the current geocryological context of the subsurface in relation to the site topography, hydrology, and geomorphology. The peripherical walls of Inuit semi-subterranean sod houses were found to contain ice-rich permafrost, whereas their central depressions were identified as sources of vertical permafrost degradation. The geophysical investigations were used to classify the permafrost at Oakes Bay 1 as climate-driven, ecosystem-protected permafrost that cannot regenerate under current climate conditions. This work highlights how the permafrost at Oakes Bay 1 is currently affected by multi-point thermal degradation by both conduction and advection, which makes it highly sensitive to climate warming. Article in Journal/Newspaper Active layer thickness Climate change Global warming Ice inuit permafrost Subarctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Geosciences 14 4 95 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
permafrost geophysics climate change archaeology geoarchaeology cultural heritage Geology QE1-996.5 |
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permafrost geophysics climate change archaeology geoarchaeology cultural heritage Geology QE1-996.5 Rachel Labrie Najat Bhiry Dominique Todisco Cécile Finco Armelle Couillet Conceptual Model of Permafrost Degradation in an Inuit Archaeological Context (Dog Island, Labrador): A Geophysical Approach |
topic_facet |
permafrost geophysics climate change archaeology geoarchaeology cultural heritage Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Characterizing permafrost is crucial for understanding the fate of arctic and subarctic archaeological archives under climate change. The loss of bio-physical integrity of archaeological sites in northern regions is still poorly documented, even though discontinuous permafrost is particularly vulnerable to global warming. In this study, we documented the spatial distribution of the permafrost-supported Inuit archaeological site Oakes Bay 1 on Dog Island (Labrador, Canada) while employing a novel approach in northern geoarchaeology based on non-invasive geophysical methods. ERT and GPR were successfully used to estimate active layer thickness and image permafrost spatial variability and characteristics. The results made it possible to reconstruct a conceptual model of the current geocryological context of the subsurface in relation to the site topography, hydrology, and geomorphology. The peripherical walls of Inuit semi-subterranean sod houses were found to contain ice-rich permafrost, whereas their central depressions were identified as sources of vertical permafrost degradation. The geophysical investigations were used to classify the permafrost at Oakes Bay 1 as climate-driven, ecosystem-protected permafrost that cannot regenerate under current climate conditions. This work highlights how the permafrost at Oakes Bay 1 is currently affected by multi-point thermal degradation by both conduction and advection, which makes it highly sensitive to climate warming. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Rachel Labrie Najat Bhiry Dominique Todisco Cécile Finco Armelle Couillet |
author_facet |
Rachel Labrie Najat Bhiry Dominique Todisco Cécile Finco Armelle Couillet |
author_sort |
Rachel Labrie |
title |
Conceptual Model of Permafrost Degradation in an Inuit Archaeological Context (Dog Island, Labrador): A Geophysical Approach |
title_short |
Conceptual Model of Permafrost Degradation in an Inuit Archaeological Context (Dog Island, Labrador): A Geophysical Approach |
title_full |
Conceptual Model of Permafrost Degradation in an Inuit Archaeological Context (Dog Island, Labrador): A Geophysical Approach |
title_fullStr |
Conceptual Model of Permafrost Degradation in an Inuit Archaeological Context (Dog Island, Labrador): A Geophysical Approach |
title_full_unstemmed |
Conceptual Model of Permafrost Degradation in an Inuit Archaeological Context (Dog Island, Labrador): A Geophysical Approach |
title_sort |
conceptual model of permafrost degradation in an inuit archaeological context (dog island, labrador): a geophysical approach |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040095 https://doaj.org/article/259afaf7e9c343579af332247064da56 |
genre |
Active layer thickness Climate change Global warming Ice inuit permafrost Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Active layer thickness Climate change Global warming Ice inuit permafrost Subarctic |
op_source |
Geosciences, Vol 14, Iss 4, p 95 (2024) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/4/95 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-3263 doi:10.3390/geosciences14040095 2076-3263 https://doaj.org/article/259afaf7e9c343579af332247064da56 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040095 |
container_title |
Geosciences |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
95 |
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1810430504175927296 |