Climatic controls on active layer dynamics: Amsler Island, A

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TitleClimatic controls on active layer dynamics: Amsler Island, AntarcticaAbstractVariations in atmospheric conditions can be important factors influencing temperature dynamics within the active layer of a soil. Solar radiation and air temperature can directly alter ground surface temperatures, while variations in wind and precipitation can control how quickly heat is carried through soil pores. The presence of seasonal snow cover can also create a thermal barrier between the atmosphere and ground surface. This study examines the relation between atmospheric conditions and ground temperature variations on a deglaciated island along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Ground temperatures were most significantly influenced by incoming solar radiation, followed by air temperature variations. When winter months were included in the comparison, the influence of air temperature increased while solar radiation became less influential, indicating that snow cover reflected solar radiation inputs, but was not thick enough to insulate the ground. When ground temperatures were compared to atmospheric conditions of preceding weeks, seasonal temperature peaks 1.6 m below ground were best related to seasonal air temperature peaks from the previous two weeks. The same ground temperature peaks were best related to seasonal solar radiation peaks of seven weeks prior. This difference was a result of temperature lags within the atmosphere. â"' Antarctic Science Ltd 2016.AcknowledgementsThe authors wish to thank the National Science Foundation (OPP_0943799) and the United States Antarctic Program for their support throughout this project, in particular John Evans, Cara Ferrier and Alexandra Isern, without whom this study would not have been possible. Thanks also to Adam Beilke, Neal Scheibe, Glenn Grant, Nicholas Haus and Graham Tilbury for helping in the field and maintaining equipment during the winter months. Finally, we would like to thank the crew of the Laurence M. Gould and the staff at Palmer Station for always being available to help with this project, without them this project would have been impossible. Funding for this project was provided by the National Science Foundation.Funding DetailsOPP-0943799, NSF, National Science Foundation

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1st AuthorWilhelm, K.AuthorWilhelm, K.Bockheim, J.Year2017JournalAntarctic ScienceVolume29Number2Pages173-182DOI10.1017/S0954102016000511URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/recor.....ce79b88ca369bb677c21277a6Author KeywordsAntarctic PeninsulaAntarctic soilsmeteorologysnow coverthermal lag

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TypeArticleCitationWilhelm, K. and Bockheim, J. (2017). Climatic controls on active layer dynamics: Amsler Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 29(2): 173-182 IdentifierWilhelm2017Antarctica NZ supported?NoNZARI?No