Numerical Modelling of Ice‐Wedge Polygon Geomorphic Transition
A numerical model is presented to test whether a hillslope diffusion approach can simulate the topographic evolution of some recently developed high‐centred ice‐wedge polygons south of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The polygons are adjacent to a highway whose construction appears to have triggered their geom...
Published in: | Permafrost and Periglacial Processes |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1909 |
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ftrepec:oai:RePEc:wly:perpro:v:28:y:2017:i:1:p:347-355 2023-05-15T16:37:39+02:00 Numerical Modelling of Ice‐Wedge Polygon Geomorphic Transition Charles J. Abolt Michael H. Young Todd G. Caldwell https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1909 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1909 article ftrepec https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1909 2020-12-04T13:31:25Z A numerical model is presented to test whether a hillslope diffusion approach can simulate the topographic evolution of some recently developed high‐centred ice‐wedge polygons south of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The polygons are adjacent to a highway whose construction appears to have triggered their geomorphic transition. The model is calibrated using a light detection and ranging data‐set that captures both the high‐centred polygons and some neighbouring low‐centred polygons that appear to be unaffected by thermokarst. The latter are used to represent initial conditions. Model simulations are analysed to estimate potential fluxes of soil from polygon edges into troughs and the loss of depressional water storage during development of the high‐centred polygons. Overall, a match between the topography of simulated and observed high‐centred polygons suggests that diffusive hillslope processes represent a feasible mechanism driving polygon transition. Rates of soil displacement inferred from optimised simulations, moreover, are within the range previously observed in permafrost terrain with a similar climate. Direct observations of the soil velocity profile in actively transitioning polygons would help resolve whether and to what extent hillslope processes, as opposed to pure thaw‐related subsidence at the polygon edges, drive the development of high‐centred forms in natural systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost Prudhoe Bay Thermokarst wedge* Alaska RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 28 1 347 355 |
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Open Polar |
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RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) |
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ftrepec |
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description |
A numerical model is presented to test whether a hillslope diffusion approach can simulate the topographic evolution of some recently developed high‐centred ice‐wedge polygons south of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The polygons are adjacent to a highway whose construction appears to have triggered their geomorphic transition. The model is calibrated using a light detection and ranging data‐set that captures both the high‐centred polygons and some neighbouring low‐centred polygons that appear to be unaffected by thermokarst. The latter are used to represent initial conditions. Model simulations are analysed to estimate potential fluxes of soil from polygon edges into troughs and the loss of depressional water storage during development of the high‐centred polygons. Overall, a match between the topography of simulated and observed high‐centred polygons suggests that diffusive hillslope processes represent a feasible mechanism driving polygon transition. Rates of soil displacement inferred from optimised simulations, moreover, are within the range previously observed in permafrost terrain with a similar climate. Direct observations of the soil velocity profile in actively transitioning polygons would help resolve whether and to what extent hillslope processes, as opposed to pure thaw‐related subsidence at the polygon edges, drive the development of high‐centred forms in natural systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Charles J. Abolt Michael H. Young Todd G. Caldwell |
spellingShingle |
Charles J. Abolt Michael H. Young Todd G. Caldwell Numerical Modelling of Ice‐Wedge Polygon Geomorphic Transition |
author_facet |
Charles J. Abolt Michael H. Young Todd G. Caldwell |
author_sort |
Charles J. Abolt |
title |
Numerical Modelling of Ice‐Wedge Polygon Geomorphic Transition |
title_short |
Numerical Modelling of Ice‐Wedge Polygon Geomorphic Transition |
title_full |
Numerical Modelling of Ice‐Wedge Polygon Geomorphic Transition |
title_fullStr |
Numerical Modelling of Ice‐Wedge Polygon Geomorphic Transition |
title_full_unstemmed |
Numerical Modelling of Ice‐Wedge Polygon Geomorphic Transition |
title_sort |
numerical modelling of ice‐wedge polygon geomorphic transition |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1909 |
genre |
Ice permafrost Prudhoe Bay Thermokarst wedge* Alaska |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost Prudhoe Bay Thermokarst wedge* Alaska |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1909 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1909 |
container_title |
Permafrost and Periglacial Processes |
container_volume |
28 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
347 |
op_container_end_page |
355 |
_version_ |
1766027952879828992 |