AMSR‐E algorithm for snowmelt onset detection in sub‐arctic heterogeneous terrain

The onset of snowmelt in the upper Yukon River basin, Canada, can be derived from brightness temperatures (T_b) obtained by the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR‐E) on NASA's Aqua satellite. This sensor, with a resolution of 14 × 8 km² for the 36·5 GHz frequency, and two to four observations per day, improves upon the twice‐daily coverage and 37 × 28 km² spatial resolution of the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I). The onset of melt within a snowpack causes an increase in the average daily 36·5 GHz vertically polarized T_b as well as a shift to high diurnal amplitude variations (DAV) as the snow melts during the day and re‐freezes at night. The higher temporal and spatial resolution makes AMSR‐E more sensitive to sub‐daily T_b oscillations, resulting in DAV that often show a greater daily range compared to SSM/I. Therefore, thresholds of T_b > 246 K and DAV > ± 10 K developed for use with SSM/I have been adjusted for detecting the onset of snowmelt with AMSR‐E using ground‐based surface temperature and snowpack wetness relationships. Using newly developed thresholds of T_b > 252 K and DAV > ± 18 K, AMSR‐E derived snowmelt onset correlates well with SSM/I observations in the small subarctic Wheaton River basin through the 2004 and 2005 winter/spring transition. In addition, the onset of snowmelt derived from AMSR‐E data gridded at a higher resolution than the SSM/I data indicates that finer‐scale differences in elevation and land cover affect the onset of snowmelt and are detectable with the AMSR‐E sensor. On the basis of these observations, the enhanced resolution of AMSR‐E is more effective than SSM/I at delineating spatial and temporal snowmelt dynamics in the heterogeneous terrain of the upper Yukon River basin. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics of land surface heat and water exchange under different soil freeze/thaw conditions over the central Tibetan Plateau

Freezing and thawing processes at the soil surface play an important role in determining the nature of Tibetan land and atmosphere interactions. In this study, land surface water and heat exchanges under different freezing and thawing conditions over the central Tibetan Plateau were investigated using observations from the Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period/Asia‐Australia Monsoon Project on the Tibetan Plateau, and the Simultaneous Heat and Water Model. During the freezing and thawing stages, significant diurnal variation of soil temperature resulted in a diurnal cycle of unfrozen water content at the surface. Radiation and energy components and evapotranspiration averaged over four freeze/thaw stages also changed diurnally. On average, the surface albedo (0·68) during the completely frozen stage was sharply higher than those during the freezing, thawing, and completely thawed stages due to the snow cover. The Bowen ratios were 3·1 and 2·5 in the freezing and thawing stages, respectively, but the ratio was only 0·5 in the completely thawed stage. Latent heat flux displayed distinctly better correlation with unfrozen soil water content during the freezing and thawing stages than during the completely frozen and thawed stages. This implies that the diurnal cycle of unfrozen soil water, resulting from diurnal freeze/thaw cycles at the surface, has a significant impact on latent heat flux. A surface energy imbalance problem was encountered, and the possible sources of error were analysed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于简化参数方法的蒙古干旱区土壤湿度被动微波遥感

卫星被动微波遥感土壤湿度,是准确分析大空间尺度上陆表水分变化信息的有效手段.美国航天局(NASA)发布的基于AMSR-E观测亮温资料的全球土壤湿度反演产品,在蒙古干旱区的实际精度并不令人满意.本文基于对地表微波辐射传输中地表粗糙度和植被层影响的简化处理方法,采用AMSR-E的6.9 GHz,10.7 GHz和18.7 GHz之V极化亮温资料,应用多频率反演算法,并以国际能量和水循环协同观测计划(The Coordinated Energy and Water Cycle Observations Project)即CEOP实验在蒙古国东部荒漠地区的地面实验资料作为先验知识,获取被动微波遥感模型的优化参数,以期获得蒙古干旱区精度更高的土壤湿度遥感估算结果.分析表明,本文方法反演的白天和夜间土壤湿度结果与地面验证值之间的均方根误差(RMSE)接近0.030 cm³/cm³, 证明所用方法在不需要其他辅助资料或参数帮助下,可较精确地反演干旱区表层土壤湿度信息,能够全天候、动态监测大空间尺度的土壤湿度变化,可为干旱区气候变化研究及陆面过程模拟和数据同化研究提供高精度的表层土壤湿度初始场资料.     

Quantifying the effect of a freeze–thaw cycle on soil erosion: laboratory experiments

In this paper we quantitatively test the hypothesis that soil freeze–thaw (FT) processes significantly increase the potential for upland hillslope erosion during run‐off events that follow thaw. We selected a highly frost‐susceptible silt to obtain an upper bound on FT effects, and completed three series of six experiments each to quantify differences in soil erosion and rill development in a bare soil following a single FT cycle. Each series represented a specific soil moisture range: 16–18 per cent, 27–30 per cent and 37–40 per cent by volume, with nominal flow rates of 0·4, 1·2 and 2·4 L/min and slopes of 8° and 15°. Each experiment used two identical soil bins: one a control (C) that remained unfrozen, and another that was frozen and thawed once. Standard soil characterization tests did not detect significant differences between the FT and C bins. We measured cross‐sectional geometry of an imposed straight rectangular rill before each experiment, sediment load during and rill cross‐sections after. Changes in cross section provided detailed measures of erosion at specific locations, while sediment load from time series run‐off samples integrated the rill erosion. Several parameters, including average maximum rill width, average maximum rill depth, rill cross‐section depth measures and sediment load, all followed similar trends. Each was greater in the FT than in the C, with values that generally increased with slope and flow. However, soil moisture was the only parameter that affected the FT/C ratios. Average sediment load grouped by soil moisture provided FT/C ratios of 2·4, 3·0 and 5·0 for low, mid and high moisture, respectively. In contrast, a ‘dry’ experiment at 4–5 per cent soil moisture had FT/C of 1·02 for sediment load. These results show a dramatic increase with soil moisture in the rate and quantity of bare soil eroded due to the FT cycle. As both FT and C results were highly sensitive to initial conditions, minimum differences in soil weight, bulk density and soil moisture through each series of experiments were required to achieve consistent results, indicating that rill erosion may be chaotic. Published in 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of riparian vegetation on stream bank subaerial processes in southwestern Virginia,USA

Riparian vegetation is frequently used for stream bank stabilization, but the effects of vegetation on subaerial processes have not been quantified. Subaerial processes, such as soil desiccation and freeze–thaw cycling, are climate‐related phenomena that deliver soil directly to the stream and make the banks more vulnerable to fluvial erosion by reducing soil strength. This study compares the impact of woody and herbaceous vegetation on subaerial processes by examining soil temperature and moisture regimes in vegetated stream banks. Soil temperature and water tension were measured at six paired field sites in southwestern Virginia, USA, for one year. Results showed that stream banks with herbaceous vegetation had higher soil temperatures and a greater diurnal temperature range during the summer compared to forested stream banks. Daily average summer soil water tension was 13 to 57 per cent higher under herbaceous vegetation than under woody vegetation, probably due to evapotranspiration from the shallow herbaceous root system on the bank. In contrast to summer conditions, the deciduous forest buffers provided little protection for stream banks during the winter: the forested stream banks experienced diurnal temperature ranges two to three times greater than stream banks under dense herbaceous cover and underwent as many as eight times the number of freeze–thaw cycles. During the winter, the stream banks under the deciduous forests were exposed to solar heating and night time cooling, which increased the diurnal soil temperature range and the occurrence of freeze–thaw cycling. Study results also indicated that freeze–thaw cycling and soil desiccation were greater on the upper stream bank due to thermal and moisture regulation of the lower bank by the stream. Therefore, subaerial erosion and soil weakening may be greater on the upper stream banks. Additional research is needed on the influence of subaerial processes on both subaerial and fluvial erosion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synergistic effect of vegetation and air temperature changes on soil water content in alpine frost meadow soil in the permafrost region of Qinghai‐Tibet

Seasonal changes over 2 years (2004–2006) in soil moisture content (θ_v) of frozen alpine frost meadow soils of the Qinghai‐Tibet plateau permafrost region under three different levels of vegetation cover were investigated. Vegetation cover and air temperature changes had significant effects (synergistic effect) on θ_v and its distribution in the soil profile. During periods of soil freezing or thawing, the less the vegetation cover, the quicker the temperature drop or rise of soil water, and the shorter the duration of the soil water freeze–thaw response in the active soil layer. Under 30% and 65% vegetation cover the amplitude of variation in θ_v during the freezing period was 20–26% greater than that under 93% cover, while during the thawing period, it was 1·5‐ to 40·5‐fold greater. The freezing temperature of the surface soil layer, ^fT_s, was 1·6 °C lower under 30% vegetation cover than under 93% vegetation cover. Changes in vegetation cover of the alpine frost meadow affected θ_v and its distribution, as well as the relationship between θ_v and soil temperature (T_s). As vegetation cover decreased, soil water circulation in the active layer increased, and the response to temperature of the water distribution across the soil profile was heightened. The quantity of transitional soil phase water at different depths significantly increased as vegetation cover decreased. The influence of vegetation cover and soil temperature distribution led to a relatively dry soil layer in the middle of the profile (0·70–0·80 m) under high vegetation cover. Alpine meadow θ_v and its pattern of distribution in the permafrost region were the result of the synergistic effect of air temperature and vegetation cover. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence for freeze–thaw events and their implications for rock weathering in northern Canada: II. The temperature at which water freezes in rock

Many undertakings have used either a single value or a narrow window of temperatures as a threshold for the freezing of water within rock. These temperatures vary from 0 to ?5 C, with most windows being in the range ?1 to ?4 C. Based on thermal data, these thresholds are commonly used to ‘count’ the number of freeze–thaw events as a basis for determining freeze–thaw weathering. Data collected from northern Canada indicate that the temperature at which freezing occurs can vary substantially, even for the same site. Using exotherm and zero curtain observations from bricks, at angles of 90 and 45, aligned to the four cardinal aspects, the various temperatures at which water froze are shown. Bricks on the north and east commonly did exhibit freezing, based on exotherms, within the window ?1 to ?5 C, while data for the south and west aspects showed substantial variation, with freezes sometimes between ?6·4 and ?8·9 C. The data were evaluated for evidence of zero curtain effects (indicative of water freezing), but no unequivocal events could be found, and it is suggested that, at the scale of observation used here, they are unlikely. It would therefore appear that the use of thermal thresholds may not be meaningful for evaluation of freeze–thaw events. The available data also indicate many instances when temperatures went substantially sub‐zero (e.g. ?20 C) and yet no indication of water freezing occurred – most likely because there was no water available to freeze. This indicates that any form of freeze–thaw event counting, in the absence of some indicator of the presence of water and that it actually froze, is flawed, as thermal conditions alone are not adequate to indicate the occurrence or not of actual freeze–thaw weathering events. These data suggest that evaluations of freeze–thaw occurrence based simply on thermal thresholds may be substantially in error. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of multiple surface soil moisture for Korean regional flux monitoring network sites: Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer E,land surface model,and ground measurements

In the past few decades, there have been great developments in remotely sensed soil moisture, with validation efforts using land surface models (LSMs) and ground‐based measurements, because soil moisture information is essential to understanding complex land surface–atmosphere interactions. However, the validation of remotely sensed soil moisture has been very limited because of the scarcity of the ground measurements in Korea. This study validated Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer E (AMSR‐E) soil moisture data with the Common Land Model (CLM), one of the most widely used LSMs, and ground‐based measurements at two Korean regional flux monitoring network sites. There was reasonable agreement regarding the different soil moisture products for monitoring temporal trends except National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) AMSR‐E soil moisture, albeit there were essential comparison limitations by different spatial scales and soil depths. The AMSR‐E soil moisture data published by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA) showed potential to replicate temporal variability patterns (root‐mean‐square errors = 0·10–0·14 m³ m^?3 and wet BIAS = 0·09 ? 0·04 m³ m^?3) with the CLM and ground‐based measurements. However, the NSIDC AMSR‐E soil moisture was problematic because of the extremely low temporal variability and the VUA AMSR‐E soil moisture was relatively inaccurate in Gwangneung site characterized by complex geophysical conditions. Additional evaluations should be required to facilitate the use of recent and forthcoming remotely sensed soil moisture data from Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity and Soil Moisture Active and Passive missions at representative future validation sites. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new approach of dynamic monitoring of 5‐day snow cover extent and snow depth based on MODIS and AMSR‐E data from Northern Xinjiang region

Taking the Northern Xinjiang region as an example, we develop a snow depth model by using the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer‐Earth Observing System (AMSR‐E) horizontal and vertical polarization brightness temperature difference data of 18 and 36 GHz bands and in situ snow depth measurements from 20 climatic stations during the snow seasons November–March) of 2002–2005. This article proposes a method to produce new 5‐day snow cover and snow depth images, using Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) daily snow cover products and AMSR‐E snow water equivalent and daily brightness temperature products. The results indicate that (1) the brightness temperature difference (Tb_18h–Tb_36h) provides the most accurate and precise prediction of snow depth; (2) the snow, land and overall classification accuracies of the new images are separately 89.2%, 77.7% and 87.2% and are much better than those of AMSR‐E or MODIS products (in all weather conditions) alone; (3) the snow classification accuracy increases as snow depth increases; and (4) snow accuracies for different land cover types vary as 88%, 92.3%, 79.7% and 80.1% for cropland, grassland, shrub, and urban and built‐up, respectively. We conclude that the new 5‐day snow cover–snow depth images can provide both accurate cloud‐free snow cover extent and the snow depth dynamics, which would lay a scientific basis for water management and prevention of snow‐related disasters in this dry and cold pastoral area. After validations of the algorithms over other regions with different snow and climate conditions, this method would also be used for monitoring snow cover and snow depth elsewhere in the world. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of snow water equivalent using microwave radiometry over Arctic first‐year sea ice

The magnitude and spatial distribution of snow on sea ice are both integral components of the ocean–sea‐ice–atmosphere system. Although there exists a number of algorithms to estimate the snow water equivalent (SWE) on terrestrial surfaces, to date there is no precise method to estimate SWE on sea ice. Physical snow properties and in situ microwave radiometry at 19, 37 and 85 GHz, V and H polarization were collected for a 10‐day period over 20 first‐year sea ice sites. We present and compare the in situ physical, electrical and microwave emission properties of snow over smooth Arctic first‐year sea ice for 19 of the 20 sites sampled. Physical processes creating the observed vertical patterns in the physical and electrical properties are discussed. An algorithm is then developed from the relationship between the SWE and the brightness temperature measured at 37 GHz (55°) H polarization and the air temperature. The multiple regression between these variables is able to account for over 90% of the variability in the measured SWE. This algorithm is validated with a small in situ data set collected during the 1999 field experiment. We then compare our data against the NASA snow thickness algorithm, designed as part of the NASA Earth Enterprise Program. The results indicated a lack of agreement between the NASA algorithm and the algorithm developed here. This lack of agreement is attributed to differences in scale between the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager and surface radiometers and to differences in the Antarctic versus Arctic snow physical and electrical properties. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a rain‐on‐snow detection algorithm using passive microwave radiometry

Currently observed climate warming in the Arctic has numerous consequences. Of particular relevance, the precipitation regime is modified where mixed and liquid precipitation can occur during the winter season leading to rain‐on‐snow (ROS) events. This phenomenon is responsible for ice crust formation, which has a significant impact on ecosystems (such as biological, hydrological, ecological and physical processes). The spatially and temporally sporadic nature of ROS events makes the phenomenon difficult to monitor using meteorological observations. This paper focuses on the detection of ROS events using passive microwave (PMW) data from a modified brightness temperature (T_B) gradient approach at 19 and 37 GHz. The approach presented here was developed empirically for observed ROS events with coincident ground‐based PMW measurements in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. It was then tested in Nunavik, Quebec, with the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR‐E). We obtained a detection accuracy of 57, 71 and 89% for ROS detection for three AMSR‐E grid cells with a maximum error of 7% when considering all omissions and commissions with regard to the total number of AMSR‐E passes throughout the winter period. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A multi‐temporal analysis of AMSR‐E data for flood and discharge monitoring during the 2008 flood in Iowa

The objective of this work is to demonstrate the potential of using passive microwave data to monitor flood and discharge conditions and to infer watershed hydraulic and hydrologic parameters. The case study is the major flood in Iowa in summer 2008. A new Polarisation Ratio Variation Index (PRVI) was developed based on a multi‐temporal analysis of 37 GHz satellite imagery from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR‐E) to calculate and detect anomalies in soil moisture and/or inundated areas. The Robust Satellite Technique (RST) which is a change detection approach based on the analysis of historical satellite records was adopted. A rating curve has been developed to assess the relationship between PRVI values and discharge observations downstream. A time‐lag term has been introduced and adjusted to account for the changing delay between PRVI and streamflow. Moreover, the Kalman filter has been used to update the rating curve parameters in near real time. The temporal variability of the b exponent in the rating curve formula shows that it converges toward a constant value. A consistent 21‐day time lag, very close to an estimate of the time of concentration, was obtained. The agreement between observed discharge downstream and estimated discharge with and without parameters adjustment was 65 and 95%, respectively. This demonstrates the interesting role that passive microwave can play in monitoring flooding and wetness conditions and estimating key hydrologic parameters. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of antecedent moisture and macroporosity on infiltration and water flow in frozen soil

Infiltration into frozen soil plays an important role in soil freeze–thaw and snowmelt-driven hydrological processes. To better understand the complex thermal energy and water transport mechanisms involved, the influence of antecedent moisture content and macroporosity on infiltration into frozen soil was investigated. Ponded infiltration experiments on frozen macroporous and non-macroporous soil columns revealed that dry macroporous soil produced infiltration rates reaching 10³ to 10⁴ mm day⁻¹, two to three orders of magnitude larger than dry non-macroporous soil. Results suggest that rapid infiltration and drainage were a result of preferential flow through initially air-filled macropores. Using recorded flow rates and measured macropore characteristics, calculations indicated that a combination of both saturated flow and unsaturated film flow likely occurred within macropores. Under wet conditions, regardless of the presence of macropores, infiltration was restricted by the slow thawing rate of pore ice, producing infiltration rates of 2.8 to 5.0 mm day⁻¹. Reduced preferential flow under wet conditions was attributed to a combination of soil swelling, due to smectite-rich clay (that reduced macropore volume), and pore ice blockage within macropores. In comparison, dry soil column experiments demonstrated that macropores provided conduits for water and thermal energy to bypass the frozen matrix during infiltration, reducing thaw rates compared with non-macroporous soils. Overall, results showed the dominant control of antecedent moisture content on the initiation, timing, and magnitude of infiltration and flow in frozen macroporous soils, as well as the important role of macropore connectivity. The study provides an important data set that can aid the development of hydrological models that consider the interacting effects of soil freeze–thaw and preferential flow on snowmelt partitioning in cold regions.     

A land surface model incorporated with soil freeze/thaw and its application in GAME/Tibet

Land surface process is of great importance in global climate change, moisture and heat exchange in the interface of the earth and atmosphere, human impacts on the environment and eco- system, etc. Soil freeze/thaw plays an important role in cold land surface processes. In this work the diurnal freeze/thaw effects on energy partition in the context of GAME/Tibet are studied. A sophisti- cated land surface model is developed, the particular aspect of which is its physical consideration of soil freeze/thaw and vapor flux. The simultaneous water and heat transfer soil sub-model not only reflects the water flow from unfrozen zone to frozen fringe in freezing/thawing soil, but also demon- strates the change of moisture and temperature field induced by vapor flux from high temperature zone to low temperature zone, which makes the model applicable for various circumstances. The modified Picard numerical method is employed to help with the water balance and convergence of the numerical scheme. Finally, the model is applied to analyze the diurnal energy and water cycle char- acteristics over the Tibetan Plateau using the Game/Tibet datasets observed in May and July of 1998. Heat and energy transfer simulation shows that: (i) There exists a negative feedback mechanism between soil freeze/thaw and soil temperature/ground heat flux; (ii) during freezing period all three heat fluxes do not vary apparently, in spite of the fact that the negative soil temperature is higher than that not considering soil freeze; (iii) during thawing period, ground heat flux increases, and sensible heat flux decreases, but latent heat flux does not change much; and (iv) during freezing period, soil temperature decreases, though ground heat flux increases.     

Temporal and spatial variations in periglacial soil movements on alpine crest slopes

This paper describes up to ten years of continuous monitoring of frost heave, creep and associated parameters on high mountain crest slopes in the Japanese and Swiss Alps, aiming to evaluate spatial and interannual variations in the rates and controls of soil movement. Shallow frost creep re?ecting diurnal frost heave activity dominates the crest slopes that lack a vegetation mat and have a thin debris mantle with good drainage. Seasonal frost heave activity can induce slightly deeper movement where ?ne soil exists below the depth reached by diurnal freeze–thaw penetration, although the shallow bedrock impedes movements below 20 cm depth. As a result, downslope velocity pro?les display strong concavity with surface velocities of 2–50 cm a^?1. The frost creep rates vary spatially, depending on the soil texture, slope gradient, frequency of temperature cycling across 0 °C and moisture availability during freeze–thaw periods. Soil movements recur in every freeze–thaw period, although with some interannual variations affected by the length of seasonal snow cover and the occurrence of precipitation during freeze–thaw periods. The Swiss Alps encounter more signi?cant interannual variations than the Japanese Alps, re?ecting the large variability of the annual snow regime. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A change detection algorithm for terrain surface moisture mapping based on multi‐year passive microwave remote sensing (Examples of SSM/I and TMI Channels)

As an indication of the surface polarized emission, a polarization index (PI) of microwave radiance from the terrain surface (half‐space of canopy‐soil land) is derived from the radiative transfer model. This PI separates the radiance effects of the canopy‐soil moisture and interference from surface roughness and atmosphere, and is suitable to describe the change of terrain surface moisture, especially for extreme drought or flood conditions. As an example, the statistics of the monthly average < PI > from 6 years' data of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) SSM/I observations at the lowest frequency 19·35 GHz channel as available are applied for the demonstration of the surface moisture status over a large and heterogeneous territory such as China. The deviation of the PI data at the same month from the average < PI > , i.e. Δ_nPI(≡(PI? < PI>)/ < PI>), gives prominence to focusing moisture variation of terrain surface, and its anomaly shows possible drought or flood occurrence in extreme conditions. The Δ_nPI mapping is validated by the typical examples of the drought in China's Shanxi area in May 2001 and the flood around China's Yangtze River in August 1998, respectively. Our approach is recommended for lower frequency channels to minimize the influence from vegetation canopy for future applications (such as the channels of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer [AMSR‐E] launched in May 2002 and microwave imaging radiometer of China's Fengyun satellite series). When the monthly < PI > and the ground truth of average volumetric moisture < m_v > of the region are correctly evaluated, it is tractable to retrieve the soil land surface moisture by using the PI data at the same month and the same region without much knowledge of surface roughness, vegetation canopy and other factors. As an example, the retrieval of m_v is favourably tested by using the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI) data. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An empirical model of event scale cohesive bank profile evolution

The highly stochastic nature of riverbank erosion has driven the need for spatially explicit empirical models. Detailed bank profile surveys along a meander bend of the Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania, USA, before and after 28 high flow events over a 2·5 year period are used to develop an empirical model of cohesive bank profile erosion. Two hundred and thirty‐six bank erosion observations are classified as hydraulic erosion or subaerial erosion. Threshold conditions required to initiate bank erosion cannot be defined based on field measurements. Using the near‐bank velocity and the number of freeze–thaw cycles as predictors, regression equations are derived for hydraulic erosion that specify the length, thickness, and location on the bank face of eroded blocks. An empirical discriminant function defines the critical geometry of overhang failures, and the volumes removed by overhang failures are computed using another regression equation. All the regression equations are significant, but have low correlation coefficients, suggesting that cohesive bank erosion has a strong stochastic component. Individual events typically remove small masses of soil (average volume 0·084 m³/m) a few centimeters thick (median = 0·057 m) and a few decimeters in length (median = 0·50 m) from the lower third of the bank. Hydraulic erosion is responsible for 87% of all erosion. When applied to three survey sites not used in its development, the profile model predicts the total volume of erosion with errors of 23%, 5% and 1%. Twenty‐four percent of computed erosion volumes for single events are within 50% of observed volumes at these three sites. Extending the approach to decadal timescales and to entire bends will require three‐dimensional observations of bank failure, and spatially and temporally explicit methods to account for the influence of individual large trees on bank failures and near‐bank hydraulic processes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laboratory frost sorting by needle ice: a pilot experiment on the effects of stone size and extent of surface stone cover

Sorted patterned ground is ubiquitous where gravelly fine soil experiences freeze–thaw cycles, but experimental studies have rarely been successful in reproducing such patterns. This article reports an attempt to reproduce miniature sorted patterns by repeating needle‐ice formation, which simulates frost sorting in regions dominated by diurnal freeze–thaw cycles. Six full‐scale laboratory models were tested. They consisted of near‐saturated volcanic fine soil topped by small stones of uniform size; the models explored a range of stone size (~6, ~12, ~17 and ~22 mm) and surface abundance (20, 40 and 60% cover). The stones were placed in a grid on the surface. These models were subjected to 20–30 temperature excursions between 10 °C and ?5 °C in 12 hours. The evolution of surface patterns were visually traced by photogrammetry. A data logging system continuously monitored vertical soil displacements, soil temperatures and moistures at different depths. All experimental runs displayed needle‐ice formation (2–3 cm in height) and resulting displacement of stones. The soil domains tended to heave faster and higher than the stones, leading to outward movement of the former and concentration of the stones. In plan view, smaller stones showed relatively fast and long‐lasting movements, while larger stones stabilized after the first five cycles. The 20% stone cover produced stone islands, whereas the 40% cover resulted in sorted labyrinths (a circle‐island complex) that may represent incipient sorted circles. The average diameter or spacing of these forms are 12–13 cm, being comparable to those in the field. The experiments imply that needle‐ice activity promotes rapid formation of sorted patterns, although the formation of well‐defined sorted circles may require hundreds of diurnal frost heave cycles. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of peri‐glacial active layer development in determining soil‐regolith thickness across a Triassic sandstone outcrop in the UK

This paper examines the weathering processes that have combined to produce the distribution of soil‐regolith (SR) thickness across the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group outcrop (750 km²) in Nottinghamshire, UK. Archive borehole logs (n = 282) taken across the outcrop showed that SR thickness had mean and median depths of ~1·8 and 1·5 m, respectively. Cores were taken from a forested site to depths ~3 m for geochemical analysis. At this site the SR thickness was ~1·7 m. Analysis of the loss of elements, compared to bedrock using mass balance calculations (τ) showed that all the calcite and gypsum cement had been removed to depths of >3 m. Thus the major difference between the SR and the underlying saprolite was that the former exists as loose sand as opposed to a semi‐durable rock. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of core samples suggested that the non‐durable rock or saprolite had greater cementation of clay particles. We propose that the mechanism through which the clay cement (and other interlocking grain bonds) was eased apart was through freeze–thaw processes associated with the summer ‘active layer development (ALD)’ during the last glacial activity in the UK. We tested this theory by developing a Monte Carlo simulation based on a simplified version of the Stefan equation. Current Arctic datasets of air and ground temperatures were obtained to provide reasonable starting conditions for input variables. These were combined with known data for thermal conductivity, bulk density and moisture content of the Sherwood Sandstone regolith. Model predictions (n = 1000) of the distribution of SR thickness accurately reflect the observed distribution thickness from the borehole logs. This is strong evidence that freeze–thaw and ‘ALD’ processes are major factors in determining the thickness of SR across this outcrop. British Geological Survey © NERC 2012     

Temporal variation in properties of an uncropped,ploughed Miamian soil in relation to seasonal erodibility

Knowledge of seasonal variation in soil structural and related properties is important for the determination of critical periods during which soil is susceptible to accelerated erosion and other degradative processes. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the magnitude of seasonal variations in selected soil and deposited sediment properties in relation to soil erodibility for a Miamian silt-loam soil (Typic Hapludalf) in central Ohio. Erosion plots (USLE-type) were established on a 4·5% slope and maintained under bare, ploughed conditions from 1988 to 1991. Particle size distribution, bulk density(ρ_b), percentage water stable aggregates (WSA), soil organic carbon (SOC), and total soil nitrogen (TSN) of both soil and sediment samples were monitored between Autumn 1989 and Spring 1991. The soil and sediment particle size distributions followed no clear seasonal trends. Soil ρ_b increased following tillage (1·20 Mg m⁻³) and was highest (1·45 Mg m⁻³) during the autumn owing to soil slumping and consolidation upon drying. Low winter and spring values of ρ_b and %WSA (20–50% lower than in autumn) were attributed to excessive wetness and freeze–thaw effects. Both SOC and soil TSN contents progressively declined (from 2·18 to 1·79% and 1·97 to 1·75 g kg⁻¹, respectively) after ploughing owing to maintenance of plots under bare, fallow conditions. Spring highs and autumn lows of sediment SOC (3·12 vs. 2·44%) and TSN (2·70 vs. 1·96 g kg⁻¹) contents were a result of the combined effects of soil microbial activity and rainfall erosivity. Soil properties such as bulk density, SOC and WSA, which vary seasonally, can potentially serve as predictors of seasonal soil erodibility, which, in turn, could improve the predictive capacity of soil erosion prediction models. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.