SEARCH ProjectsChanges in Freeze-Thaw and Permafrost Dynamics and Their Hydrological Implication Over the Russian Arctic Drainage BasinPI: Tingjun Zhang Co: Roger G. Barry Institution: U of Colorado Boulder AbstractThe proposed research will assess the response of soil thermal, freeze-thaw and permafrost dynamics to climate change, and will evaluate the impacts of these processes on the hydrologic cycle of the Russian arctic drainage basin over the past half century. Research methods will include analysis and synthesis of data acquired (in many cases, rescued) from 400 locations distributed throughout the former Soviet Union. A key question being addressed focusses on explaining the large observed geographical irregularity in long-term surface temperature change. The research is structured to investigate a key hypothesis that relates climate warming, higher permafrost temperature, a deeper active layer, and a longer thaw season. One result will be the impact of climate warming, through the soil and permafrost interactions, on the seasonal cycles of riverine fresh water input to the Arctic Ocean. The project will also yield a series of data products relevant to soil temperature and freeze-thaw cycles. |