Quantifying the erosional impact of the Fennoscandian ice sheet in the Torneträsk–Narvik corridor, northern Sweden, based on cosmogenic radionuclide data

Despite spectacular landform evidence of a dominant role for glacial action in shaping landscapes under former northern hemisphere ice sheets, there is little quantitative evidence for rates and patterns of erosion associated with specific glaciations. Here we use cosmogenic nuclide data to assess rates of subglacial erosion underneath the Fennoscandian ice sheet. By testing whether there are remnant nuclide concentrations in samples taken from sites that include both relict areas and features and landscapes typically associated with vigorous glacial erosion, we can constrain the level and pattern of modification that resulted from the last glaciation. Cosmogenic ¹⁰Be and ³⁶Cl data from the Torneträsk region confirm the temporal and spatial variability of glacial erosion suggested by geomorphological mapping. At some sites, glacial erosion estimates in what appear to be heavily scoured areas indicate erosion of only c. 2 ± 0.4 m of bedrock, based on cosmogenic nuclide inheritance. This implies that the generation of severely scoured terrain in this study area required multiple glaciations. The overall modification produced by ice sheets along glacial corridors may be more restricted than previously thought, or may have occurred preferentially during earlier Quaternary glacial periods.     

Detailed geomorphological survey of a small mountain drainage area, Abisko, northern Swedish Lapland

A thorough geomorphological survey of a small (2km²) drainage area has been conducted using digital magnification of aerial photographs in conjunction with field visits. The result presented is a geomorphological map where individual geomorphological features down to metre size can be identified. The study was done in connection with a project focusing on the relationship between geomorphological processes and lacustrine sedimentation. Good knowledge of the geomorphological setting and the related process activity in the catchment is important in studies using lacustrine sediments as environmental archives.
The survey reveals a small–scale geomorphology dominated by a number of different periglacial upfreezing forms together with bedrock–controlled slope processes. Three different geographically separated geomorphological assemblages were recognised with few sediment transportation pathways connecting them. Composition of substrate, soil water content and vegetation cover combined with different slope angles are probably the most important factors controlling the distribution of the geomorphological features.     

Detailed geomorphological survey of a small mountain drainage area, Abisko, northern Swedish Lapland

A thorough geomorphological survey of a small (2km²) drainage area has been conducted using digital magnification of aerial photographs in conjunction with field visits. The result presented is a geomorphological map where individual geomorphological features down to metre size can be identified. The study was done in connection with a project focusing on the relationship between geomorphological processes and lacustrine sedimentation. Good knowledge of the geomorphological setting and the related process activity in the catchment is important in studies using lacustrine sediments as environmental archives.
The survey reveals a small–scale geomorphology dominated by a number of different periglacial upfreezing forms together with bedrock–controlled slope processes. Three different geographically separated geomorphological assemblages were recognised with few sediment transportation pathways connecting them. Composition of substrate, soil water content and vegetation cover combined with different slope angles are probably the most important factors controlling the distribution of the geomorphological features.     

Near–surface ground temperature regime variability in selected microenvironments, Kärkevagge, Swedish Lapland

The importance of topographic microvariability in influencing shallow (10–50 cm depths) soil temperature regimes in arctic–alpine Kärkevagge, northern Sweden, from August 1999 to July 2000 is demonstrated using six sites. The ground microclimate on the tops of very large boulders forming an extensive boulder field in the central valley bottom is more comparable to that at an alpine ridge–crest site 300 m higher than it is to the microclimate at the base of one of the boulders. The boulder crests also differ substantially from the more generalized valley–bottom conditions outside the boulder field. Assuming that chemical processes may be active at temperatures at or above 0°C, sites in the valley experience favorable conditions from 159 to 324 days of the year. Aside from the annual cycle, freeze–thaw cycles are infrequent within Kärkevagge.     

Near–surface ground temperature regime variability in selected microenvironments, Kärkevagge, Swedish Lapland

The importance of topographic microvariability in influencing shallow (10–50 cm depths) soil temperature regimes in arctic–alpine Kärkevagge, northern Sweden, from August 1999 to July 2000 is demonstrated using six sites. The ground microclimate on the tops of very large boulders forming an extensive boulder field in the central valley bottom is more comparable to that at an alpine ridge–crest site 300 m higher than it is to the microclimate at the base of one of the boulders. The boulder crests also differ substantially from the more generalized valley–bottom conditions outside the boulder field. Assuming that chemical processes may be active at temperatures at or above 0°C, sites in the valley experience favorable conditions from 159 to 324 days of the year. Aside from the annual cycle, freeze–thaw cycles are infrequent within Kärkevagge.     

Gelifluction within a solifluction lobe in the Kärkevagge valley, Swedish Lapland

Soil displacement, soil temperature, depths of thaw plane and groundwater level were continuously monitored during the period from July 1999 to June 2000 within a solifluction lobe in the Kärkevagge valley, northern Sweden. The strain–probe method was used to measure soil displacement, and we found significant soil displacements in the thawing period 2000. These displacements were the result of gelifluction. The ice content profile showed that gelifluction occurred at the same time as the thaw plane reached the layers with high ice content at shallow soil depths (0–6 and 16–25 cm deep). In contrast, gelifluction did not occur when the thaw plane reached the layers with high ice content at greater depth (46–49 cm deep). These observations indicate that thawing of ice lenses in the near–surface layer triggers gelifluction.     

Gelifluction within a solifluction lobe in the Kärkevagge valley, Swedish Lapland

Soil displacement, soil temperature, depths of thaw plane and groundwater level were continuously monitored during the period from July 1999 to June 2000 within a solifluction lobe in the Kärkevagge valley, northern Sweden. The strain–probe method was used to measure soil displacement, and we found significant soil displacements in the thawing period 2000. These displacements were the result of gelifluction. The ice content profile showed that gelifluction occurred at the same time as the thaw plane reached the layers with high ice content at shallow soil depths (0–6 and 16–25 cm deep). In contrast, gelifluction did not occur when the thaw plane reached the layers with high ice content at greater depth (46–49 cm deep). These observations indicate that thawing of ice lenses in the near–surface layer triggers gelifluction.     

Estimates of lichen growth–rate in northern Sweden

Two lichenometric techniques were compared in a study of lichen growth–rate in northern Sweden. The first technique, based on the maximum lichen diameter on glacier moraines, was identical to the technique used in the 1970s, whereas the other utilized the lichen diameter measured on 100 randomly selected boulders. The results indicate that it does not matter which technique is chosen, as long as the technique is used consistently on both the calibration surfaces and the surfaces to be dated. The use of data from both the 1970s and the 2000s increased the number of calibration surfaces available. The new calibration curve indicates that the age of Little Ice Age moraines was underestimated by up to about 30 years in the study conducted in the 1970s.     

Estimates of lichen growth–rate in northern Sweden

Two lichenometric techniques were compared in a study of lichen growth–rate in northern Sweden. The first technique, based on the maximum lichen diameter on glacier moraines, was identical to the technique used in the 1970s, whereas the other utilized the lichen diameter measured on 100 randomly selected boulders. The results indicate that it does not matter which technique is chosen, as long as the technique is used consistently on both the calibration surfaces and the surfaces to be dated. The use of data from both the 1970s and the 2000s increased the number of calibration surfaces available. The new calibration curve indicates that the age of Little Ice Age moraines was underestimated by up to about 30 years in the study conducted in the 1970s.     

基于卫星资料的气溶胶对冰云影响及分布特征分析

通过利用2010年1月—2016年12月CALIOP(the Cloud-aerosol lidar with orthogonal polariz-ation)冰云和气溶胶3级月平均产品和MODIS(Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer)大气3级日平均产品研究气溶...     

基于CALIPSO卫星产品的中国区域异质核化冰云比例差异

利用2012年1月～2015年12月CALIPSO冰云3级月平均产品(CAL_LID_L3_Ice_Cloud)对中国区域异质核化冰云比例进行分析,研究冰云的比例分布与季节变化特征,探究中国区域冰云分布情况和影响冰云分布的因素。结果表明:中国南北部冰云的比例差异与地面2 m温度、地表长波净辐射通量和来自地面的冰核有关。-40～0℃之间的冰云比例水平分布,中国大陆北部比中国大陆南部高约30%,季节性变化规律明显,冬季南北差异大,夏季南北差异小;云箱温度在-30～10℃之间的冰云,中国大陆北部比例比大陆南部平均高出约5%,春季、秋季、冬季北部冰云比例均高于南部,夏季温度在-8℃以下,南部的冰云比例超过了北部的冰云比例;在对流层(10 km以下),冰云比例分布中国大陆北部比南部高,南北部之间冰云比例差异在6 km左右显示出峰值,约50%,四季冰云比例随高度增加均呈现增大的趋势,且北部冰云比例均高于南部。     

基于Elmer/Ice冰盖模型的南极Gamburtsev山脉Lambert冰川冰盖系统的数值模式模拟研究

在全球变暖的背景下, 东南极冰盖显著地出现降雪增多冰厚增大的现象, 然而由于有关东南极冰盖 的观测数据相对缺乏, 因而很难对东南极冰盖大范围的冰盖动力学、热力学状态细节进行整体性评估。 Dome A 到中山站断面是横穿南极冰盖计划的核心断面之一。该断面穿越的兰伯特(Lambert)冰川上游、甘 布尔采夫(Gamburtsev)冰下山脉和Dome A 区域是南极科学研究的热点区域, 因此具有重要的研究价值。本 研究使用已多次在南极冰盖有过成功模拟应用的三维有限元冰盖模式Elmer/Ice, 对该区域的内部温度场和 速度场进行了模拟, 得到了冰盖的流速场和温度场数据, 并将模拟数据与传统估测数据进行了对比, 发现 两者在总体趋势上吻合。研究表明, 该研究区域冰盖的底部温度大部分达到了压力熔点, 只有少部分靠近内 陆的冰盖底部未达到; 在冰盖内陆区域, 水平速度场非常小, 在靠近冰架区域时, 水平速度场突然增大, 而 垂直速度场只有在冰下地形发生显著波动时, 出现显著变化。在此基础上, 对Elmer/Ice 冰盖模式的应用前 景和需改进的方面进行了探讨。     

Surface velocity estimations of ice shelves in the northern Antarctic Peninsula derived from MODIS data

The ice shelves in the northern Antarctic Peninsula are highly sensitive to variations of temperature and have therefore served as indicators of global warming. In this study, we estimate the velocities of the ice shelves in the northern Antarctic Peninsula using co-registration of optically sensed images and correlation module (COSI-Corr) in the Environment for Visualizing Images (ENVI) based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images during 2000-2012, from which we conclude that the ice ?ow directions generally match the peninsulas pattern and the crevasse, ice flows mainly eastward into the Weddell Sea. The spatial pattern of velocity field exhibits an increasing trend from the western grounding line to the maximum at the middle part of the ice shelf front on Larsen C with a velocity of approximately 700 ma^-1, and the velocity field shows relatively higher values in its southerly neighboring ice shelf (e.g. Smith Inlet). Additionally, ice ?ows are relatively quicker in the outer part of the ice shelf than in the inner parts. Temporal changes in surface velocities show a continuous increase from 2000 to 2012. It is worth noting that, the acceleration rate during 2000-2009 is relatively higher than that during 2009-2012, while the ice movement on the southern Larsen C and Smith Inlet shows a deceleration from 2009 to 2012.     

The eastern extent of the Barents–Kara ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum based on seismic-reflection data from the eastern Kara Sea

We present sub-bottom profiling (sparker and Parasound) results from the eastern Kara Sea, on the Eurasian Arctic margin, which enable the identification of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice extent. The analysed profiles show that glacigenic diamicton is ubiquitous at the seafloor, east of about 95°E and 78°N. The eastern margin of this diamicton is expressed in a conspicuous morainic ridge at the entrance to the Vilkitsky Strait, and to the south the diamicton projection aligns with the LGM limit mapped at the north-western Taymyr. The bottom of the Voronin Trough further north is also covered with diamicton and has numerous erosional bedforms, indicating a streamlined flow of grounded ice along the trough. Accurate dating of the diamicton is not attainable, but the correlation of pre-diamict sediments to well-dated sections in the Laptev Sea, and available ¹⁴C ages from sediments on top of the diamicton, indicate its LGM age. These results support the palaeogeographic reconstruction that assumes the extension of the LGM Barents–Kara ice sheet as far east as Taymyr. This configuration implies that LGM ice blocked the drainage of the Ob and Yenisey rivers on the Kara shelf. This inference is consistent with the presence of large (>100 km wide) lenses of basin infill adjacent to the southern margin of the diamicton. However, the limited distribution of the eastern Kara ice lobe, not extending on Severnaya Zemlya, suggests that the ice was fairly thin and short-lived: insufficient for the accumulation of the gigantic proglacial lakes that occurred during earlier glaciations.     

The geomorphic impact of glaciers as indicated by tors in North Sweden (Aurivaara, 68° N)

Geomorphological investigations carried out on 15 tor-like features located on the Aurivaara plateau (North Sweden, 68° N) provide new insights in the greatly debated age of these landforms. Erratics and till trapped deep in the tor joints support a pre-Weichselian age for tor formation. Moreover, the occurrence of various weathering stages in allochtonous material, the joint width up to 1.5 m (requiring long-term weathering), and the frequent association of tors with pediment-like forms, suggest pre-Quaternary tor formation. The juxtaposition of fresh erratics and in situ old weathering features (mushroom rocks, concentrically weathered well-rounded corestones, and grus) indicates a predominantly cold-based regime for the Scandinavian ice sheet, with erratics carried by the overlying moving ice being repeatedly deposited on tor summits during deglaciation phases. The relationships between tors and ice action indicated for the Aurivaara plateau result in the proposal of a morphodynamical succession of five tor subtypes ranging from the preservation of well-rounded corestones still embedded in grus (suggesting negligible glacial erosion) to the almost complete removal of tor features by ice scouring. A comparison with tors in similar geological and topographical contexts from the unglaciated Dartmoor area allows a tentative evaluation of an average overall glacial erosion of 0–10 m on the northern Sweden plateaus, in sharp contrast with the 190 m overdeepening of the nearby Torneträsk basin. Thus, this case study of Swedish tors provides additional support to the recent interpretations of relict landscapes in previously glaciated areas and is in accordance with the classical «model» of glacial selective erosion established in the Nordic and Arctic mountains.     

Ice-rafted detritus events in the Arctic during the last glacial interval, and the timing of the Innuitian and Laurentide ice sheet calving events

Ice-rafted detritus (IRD) layers in the Arctic Ocean not only indicate the source of this detrital sediment, but give insights into the ice drift and ice sheet history. Detrital sand-sized Fe oxide mineral grains that are matched to precise sources using the microprobe chemical fingerprint of each grain, along with elevated coarse IRD abundance and radiocarbon ages, are used to define IRD peaks from the Innuitian and Arctic portions of the Laurentide ice sheets. Because grains from these two areas can be entrained by sea ice from the shelves just offshore of the calving areas, peaks in these grains must be correlated to coarse IRD to identify iceberg calving events, and to distinguish them from sea-ice rafting. The sequence of IRD peaks deposited by icebergs from these two ice sheets indicate that both ice sheets calved bergs at accelerated numbers, six or seven times, from 11 to 36 Kya. The relatively short times between most of these IRD events suggest that the ice sheets did not completely collapse with each IRD event, except the last event. Although there is some indication that one ice sheet may have begun calving bergs before the other, the resolution of the Arctic cores does not allow definitive determination of this. This emphasizes the need for higher resolution cores from the central Arctic, as well as from near the terminus of large Pleistocene ice sheets. Sea-ice rafting occurs throughout the last glacial stage, even during some glacial IRD events, as indicated by Fe grains from non-glacial sources.     

基于海冰密集度遥感数据的波弗特海海冰时空变化研究

采用美国冰雪数据中心(NSIDC)的日尺度与月尺度海冰密集度数据,将海冰密集度为15%作为阈值确定海冰外缘线位置,提取波弗特海海域的海冰外缘线,计算波弗特海的海冰密集度、海冰范围与海冰面积,然后通过海冰范围与海冰外缘线的年际变化与季节变化来分析波弗特海海冰外缘线退缩的时空变化特征与趋势。实验结果表明,1978—2015年波弗特海的海冰密集度、海冰范围与海冰面积整体变化趋势一致,减少趋势显著。37年来,海冰密集度平均每年减少约0.3%,海冰范围平均每年减少3 235 km2,海冰面积平均每年减少5 084 km2。海冰密集度在1979—1996年无明显减少趋势,1996—2015年减少趋势明显。波弗特海海冰范围一般在9月达到最小值,在11月至次年5月维持在最大值(全冰覆盖状态);海冰面积一般在9月达到最小值,在12月或者1月达到最大值。海冰范围最小值出现时间有延迟的趋势,全冰覆盖状态具有起始时间越来越晚、终止时间越来越早、持续时间越来越短的趋势,平均持续天数为212 d。     

Exhumation and incision history of the Lahul Himalaya, northern India, based on (U–Th)/He thermochronometry and terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide methods

Low-temperature apatite (U–Th)/He (AHe) thermochronology on vertical transects of leucogranite stocks and ¹⁰Be terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) surface exposure dating on strath terraces in the Lahul Himalaya provide a first approximation of long-term (10⁴–10⁶ years) exhumation rates for the High Himalayan Crystalline Series (HHCS) for northern India. The AHe ages show that exhumation of the HHCS in Lahul from shallow crustal levels to the surface was ~ 1–2 mm/a and occurred during the past ~ 2.5 Ma. Bedrock exhumation in Lahul fits into a regional pattern in the HHCS of low-temperature thermochronometers yielding Plio-Pleistocene ages. Surface exposure ages of strath terraces along the Chandra River range from ~ 3.5 to 0.2 ka. Two sites along the Chandra River show a correlation between TCN age and height above the river level yielding maximum incision rates of 12 and 5.5 mm/a. Comparison of our AHe and surface exposure ages from Lahul with thermochronometry data from the fastest uplifting region at the western end of the Himalaya, the Nanga Parbat syntaxis, illustrates that there are contrasting regions in the High Himalaya where longer term (10⁵–10⁷ years) erosion and exhumation of bedrock substantially differ even though Holocene rates of fluvial incision are comparable. These data imply that the orogen's indenting corners are regions where focused denudation has been stable since the mid-Pliocene. However, away from these localized areas where there is a potent coupling of tectonic and surface processes that produce rapid uplift and denudation, Plio-Pleistocene erosion and exhumation can be characterized by disequilibrium, where longer term rates are relatively slower and shorter term fluvial erosion is highly variable over time and distance. The surface exposure age data reflect differential incision along the length of the Chandra River over millennial time frames, illustrate the variances that are possible in Himalayan river incision, and highlight the complexity of Himalayan environments.     

Spatial patterns of ice storm disturbance on a forested landscape in the Appalachian Mountains, Virginia

Ice storms (major freezing rain events) periodically disturb forests in eastern North America. The damage may vary spatially, especially in complex terrain. This study uses satellite imagery to investigate spatial heterogeneity of forest damage caused by ice storms that affected the Appalachian Mountains, Virginia during 1994. The results display a region-scale (southwest-to-northeast) gradient in damage that apparently corresponds to a gradient in the depth of ice that accumulated during the storms. Damage also varied topographically, particularly by aspect. Damage was most extensive on east-, southeast- and south-facing slopes; at middle elevations; and on slopes of moderate steepness.