Active layer thermal regime in two climatically contrasted sites of the Antarctic Peninsula region

• Published in: Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica
• Main Authors: Hrbáček, F., Oliva, M., Laska, K., Ruiz-Fernández, J., de Pablo, M. A., Vieira, G., Ramos, M., Nývlt, D.
• Other Authors: Masaryk University project MUNI/A/561 1370/2014, Portuguese Science Foundation projects HOLOANTAR and PROPOLAR, AXA Research Fund
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de La Rioja 2016
• Subjects: Antarctic Peninsula; James Ross Island; Livingston Island; active layer; air and ground temperatures; Península Antárctica; isla James Ross; isla Livingston; capa activa; temperaturas de suelo y de aire; Alta; Antarctic; Byers; Byers peninsula; Hielo; isla James; península Byers; Ross Isla; Ross Island; The Antarctic; Ulu Peninsula; Active layer thickness; Antarc*; Antártica; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: https://publicaciones.unirioja.es/ojs/index.php/cig/article/view/2915; https://doi.org/10.18172/cig.2915

Permafrost controls geomorphic processes in ice-free areas of the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) region. Future climate trends will promote significant changes of the active layer regime and permafrost distribution, and therefore a better characterization of present-day state is needed. With this purpose, this research focuses on Ulu Peninsula (James Ross Island) and Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island), located in the area of continuous and discontinuous permafrost in the eastern and western sides of the AP, respectively. Air and ground temperatures in as low as 80 cm below surface of the ground were monitored between January and December 2014. There is a high correlation between air temperatures on both sites (r=0.74). The mean annual temperature in Ulu Peninsula was -7.9 ºC, while in Byers Peninsula was -2.6 ºC. The lower air temperatures in Ulu Peninsula are also reflected in ground temperatures, which were between 4.9 (5 cm) and 5.9 ºC (75/80 cm) lower. The maximum active layer thickness observed during the study period was 52 cm in Ulu Peninsula and 85 cm in Byers Peninsula. Besides climate, soil characteristics, topography and snow cover are the main factors controlling the ground thermal regime in both areas. El permafrost controla los procesos geomorfológicos en las regiones libres de hielo de la Península Antártica (AP). Las tendencias climáticas futuras conllevarán cambios significativos en el régimen térmico de la capa activa y en la distribución del permafrost, y por ello, se necesita una mejor caracterización de su estado actual. Con este objetivo, esta investigación se centra en la Península Ulu (isla James Ross) y la Península Byers (isla Livingston), áreas emplazadas en zonas de permafrost continuo y discontinuo del este y oeste de la AP, respectivamente. Las temperaturas del aire y de suelo hasta 80 cm fueron monitorizadas entre enero y diciembre de 2014. Existe una alta correlación entre la temperatura del aire en ambos sitios (r = 0,74). La temperatura media anual en la Península Ulu fue de -7,9 ...