Permafrost investigations in Iezer Mountains, Southern Carpathians
This paper assesses the possibility of permafrost occurrence in Iezer Mountains using field observations, GIS analysis and thermal investigations in the field. Rock glaciers as the main mountain permafrost footprint in the landscape are mapped using cross validation from two independent inventories,...
Published in: | Revista de Geomorfologie |
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Romanian Association of Geomorphologists
2018
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.21094/rg.2018.033 https://doaj.org/article/a807a95cbca44c1ca98796916a3af26d |
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fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:a807a95cbca44c1ca98796916a3af26d 2023-05-15T16:36:51+02:00 Permafrost investigations in Iezer Mountains, Southern Carpathians Răzvan POPESCU 2018-12-01 https://doi.org/10.21094/rg.2018.033 https://doaj.org/article/a807a95cbca44c1ca98796916a3af26d en fr eng fre Romanian Association of Geomorphologists doi:10.21094/rg.2018.033 1453-5068 2285-6773 https://doaj.org/article/a807a95cbca44c1ca98796916a3af26d undefined Revista de Geomorfologie, Vol 20, Iss 1 (2018) mountain permafrost rock glaciers rock–ice features talus slopes Iezer Mountains geo envir Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2018 fttriple https://doi.org/10.21094/rg.2018.033 2023-01-22T19:27:36Z This paper assesses the possibility of permafrost occurrence in Iezer Mountains using field observations, GIS analysis and thermal investigations in the field. Rock glaciers as the main mountain permafrost footprint in the landscape are mapped using cross validation from two independent inventories, analysed and classified in terms of size, altitude, morphology, air temperature and vegetation cover. Measurements of spring temperatures, bottom temperature of snow (BTS) and continuous (near) ground surface temperature (GST) were applied to check for permafrost presence. Autumn temperature of 20 alpine springs are analysed and grouped by their source, temperature and apparent discharges. BTS was applied on 3 sites from the upper part of Colților Valley in 2012 and 2018 along GST in Tambura scree in 2012–2018 period. 16 rock glaciers are considered to exist in Iezer Massif, a much smaller number than previously assumed. We argue that several other landforms are rock–ice features and should be inventoried and analysed in corresponding with minimal past permafrost creep. Rock glaciers are poorly developed and have a faded morphology because of low debris availability, short periods of time with favourable climates and less supportive mountain morphometry. Alpine springs indicate possible permafrost occurrence in one rock glacier and one talus slope and BTS reveal sporadic patches of permafrost down to 1900 m asl in Colților Valley. GST supports the multiannual stability of permafrost indicating BTS on a multiannual scale and suggests the great importance of autumn–early winter temperatures and snow interplay for ground cooling and permafrost maintenance. We argue that 11 rock glaciers from Iezer Mountains are probably inactive. MAGST of 1.1 – 3.2 °C suggest a strong thermal gradient in the blocky layer if permafrost is truly present. Alpine screes possibly underlain by permafrost seem not to be disturbed by any modern climate changes. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost Field Rock Unknown Field Rock ENVELOPE(62.906,62.906,-67.602,-67.602) Revista de Geomorfologie 20 1 102 122 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Unknown |
op_collection_id |
fttriple |
language |
English French |
topic |
mountain permafrost rock glaciers rock–ice features talus slopes Iezer Mountains geo envir |
spellingShingle |
mountain permafrost rock glaciers rock–ice features talus slopes Iezer Mountains geo envir Răzvan POPESCU Permafrost investigations in Iezer Mountains, Southern Carpathians |
topic_facet |
mountain permafrost rock glaciers rock–ice features talus slopes Iezer Mountains geo envir |
description |
This paper assesses the possibility of permafrost occurrence in Iezer Mountains using field observations, GIS analysis and thermal investigations in the field. Rock glaciers as the main mountain permafrost footprint in the landscape are mapped using cross validation from two independent inventories, analysed and classified in terms of size, altitude, morphology, air temperature and vegetation cover. Measurements of spring temperatures, bottom temperature of snow (BTS) and continuous (near) ground surface temperature (GST) were applied to check for permafrost presence. Autumn temperature of 20 alpine springs are analysed and grouped by their source, temperature and apparent discharges. BTS was applied on 3 sites from the upper part of Colților Valley in 2012 and 2018 along GST in Tambura scree in 2012–2018 period. 16 rock glaciers are considered to exist in Iezer Massif, a much smaller number than previously assumed. We argue that several other landforms are rock–ice features and should be inventoried and analysed in corresponding with minimal past permafrost creep. Rock glaciers are poorly developed and have a faded morphology because of low debris availability, short periods of time with favourable climates and less supportive mountain morphometry. Alpine springs indicate possible permafrost occurrence in one rock glacier and one talus slope and BTS reveal sporadic patches of permafrost down to 1900 m asl in Colților Valley. GST supports the multiannual stability of permafrost indicating BTS on a multiannual scale and suggests the great importance of autumn–early winter temperatures and snow interplay for ground cooling and permafrost maintenance. We argue that 11 rock glaciers from Iezer Mountains are probably inactive. MAGST of 1.1 – 3.2 °C suggest a strong thermal gradient in the blocky layer if permafrost is truly present. Alpine screes possibly underlain by permafrost seem not to be disturbed by any modern climate changes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Răzvan POPESCU |
author_facet |
Răzvan POPESCU |
author_sort |
Răzvan POPESCU |
title |
Permafrost investigations in Iezer Mountains, Southern Carpathians |
title_short |
Permafrost investigations in Iezer Mountains, Southern Carpathians |
title_full |
Permafrost investigations in Iezer Mountains, Southern Carpathians |
title_fullStr |
Permafrost investigations in Iezer Mountains, Southern Carpathians |
title_full_unstemmed |
Permafrost investigations in Iezer Mountains, Southern Carpathians |
title_sort |
permafrost investigations in iezer mountains, southern carpathians |
publisher |
Romanian Association of Geomorphologists |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.21094/rg.2018.033 https://doaj.org/article/a807a95cbca44c1ca98796916a3af26d |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(62.906,62.906,-67.602,-67.602) |
geographic |
Field Rock |
geographic_facet |
Field Rock |
genre |
Ice permafrost Field Rock |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost Field Rock |
op_source |
Revista de Geomorfologie, Vol 20, Iss 1 (2018) |
op_relation |
doi:10.21094/rg.2018.033 1453-5068 2285-6773 https://doaj.org/article/a807a95cbca44c1ca98796916a3af26d |
op_rights |
undefined |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.21094/rg.2018.033 |
container_title |
Revista de Geomorfologie |
container_volume |
20 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
102 |
op_container_end_page |
122 |
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1766027168374063104 |