Central Svalbard 2000-2011 meteorological dynamics and periglacial landscape response
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Central Svalbard 2000-2011 meteorological dynamics and periglacial landscape response. / Christiansen, Hanne Hvidtfeldt; Humlum, O.; Eckerstorfer, M.
In: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol. 45, No. 1, 2013, p. 6-18.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Central Svalbard 2000-2011 meteorological dynamics and periglacial landscape response
AU - Christiansen, Hanne Hvidtfeldt
AU - Humlum, O.
AU - Eckerstorfer, M.
N1 - CENPERM[2013]
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Local mountain meteorology of the landscape around Longyearbyen in central Svalbard is analyzed through the decade from 2000 to 2011. Standard meteorological stations from close to sea level and up to 464 m a.s.1. located on different periglacial landforms, have been used. During winters with little sea ice, strong temperature inversions do not develop, and then there is a distinct cooling with height, as opposed to when sea ice is present. Airflow is accelerated due to topography and direction deflected in the confined valleys, whereas open plateaus have on average 1 m/s lower wind speeds with a regional SE direction. The permafrost thermal state is largely controlled by meteorology, with permafrost in the valley bottoms as cold as on the mountain plateaus. The periglacial landform most exposed to climatic variability is ice-wedges, which seem to crack mainly during shorter cooling periods. Such activity is also linked to temperature inversions, and thus also occur mainly when sea ice is present. Solifluction is mainly controlled by the balance between summer thawing and winter freezing in combination with snow dynamics, whereas avalanches are mainly wind controlled. Avalanches and avalanche controlled landforms are least sensitive to climatic variability.
AB - Local mountain meteorology of the landscape around Longyearbyen in central Svalbard is analyzed through the decade from 2000 to 2011. Standard meteorological stations from close to sea level and up to 464 m a.s.1. located on different periglacial landforms, have been used. During winters with little sea ice, strong temperature inversions do not develop, and then there is a distinct cooling with height, as opposed to when sea ice is present. Airflow is accelerated due to topography and direction deflected in the confined valleys, whereas open plateaus have on average 1 m/s lower wind speeds with a regional SE direction. The permafrost thermal state is largely controlled by meteorology, with permafrost in the valley bottoms as cold as on the mountain plateaus. The periglacial landform most exposed to climatic variability is ice-wedges, which seem to crack mainly during shorter cooling periods. Such activity is also linked to temperature inversions, and thus also occur mainly when sea ice is present. Solifluction is mainly controlled by the balance between summer thawing and winter freezing in combination with snow dynamics, whereas avalanches are mainly wind controlled. Avalanches and avalanche controlled landforms are least sensitive to climatic variability.
KW - airflow
KW - climate change
KW - cooling
KW - freezing
KW - landscape
KW - periglacial environment
KW - permafrost
KW - sea ice
KW - snow avalanche
KW - solifluction
KW - topographic effect
KW - weather station
KW - wind velocity, Arctic
KW - Longyearbyen
KW - Spitsbergen
KW - Svalbard
KW - Svalbard and Jan Mayen
U2 - 10.1657/1938-4246-45.1.6
DO - 10.1657/1938-4246-45.1.6
M3 - Journal article
VL - 45
SP - 6
EP - 18
JO - Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
JF - Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
SN - 1523-0430
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 140720664