thumbnail

Vulnerability and resilience of ice-rich permafrost to thermal erosion gullying in the Arctic Foothills infrastructure corridor, Alaska

By: , and 

Links

  • The Publications Warehouse does not have links to digital versions of this publication at this time
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

The Arctic and its permafrost terrains are inherently dynamic, complex, and sensitive environments. Understanding the past and current changes occurring in these systems is key in predicting future variations, including the response of permafrost to climate change and to surface disturbances resulting from natural processes or anthropogenic activities. Here, we focus on advancing our understanding of the drivers controlling terrain vulnerability and resilience to thermal erosion gullying proximal to linear infrastructure in the lowlands of the Arctic Foothills (Alaska). This builds upon our previous work (Stephani et al. 2023) in the infrastructure corridor that includes the Dalton Highway and Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS).

To identify locations affected by thermal erosion gullying and recognize changes in the ~80-km long corridor section that travels through the Arctic Foothills, we compared time series of high-resolution satellite imagery from 2001 to 2023. When we captured the timing of gullying onset and/or growth, we examined prevailing climatic conditions (Sagwon Station) prior to these terrain changes. We integrated our findings with our field-based data (e.g., drilling) described in Stephani et al. (2023). 

Suggested Citation

Stephani, E.A., Darrow, M., and Kanevskiy, M., 2023, Vulnerability and resilience of ice-rich permafrost to thermal erosion gullying in the Arctic Foothills infrastructure corridor, Alaska, in 12th International conference on permafrost proceedings, v. 2, p. 533-534.

Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Abstract or summary
Title Vulnerability and resilience of ice-rich permafrost to thermal erosion gullying in the Arctic Foothills infrastructure corridor, Alaska
Volume 2
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher International Permafrost Association
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center Ecosystems
Description 2 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title 12th International conference on permafrost proceedings
First page 533
Last page 534
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Alaska Foothills
Additional publication details