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TOPOCLIMATIC CONTROLS ON ACTIVE-LAYER THICKNESS, ALASKAN COASTAL PLAIN

Session: John Ross MacKay Symposium - Permafrost III / Symposium John Ross MacKay - Pergélisol III

Frederick Nelson, Northern Michigan University (United States)
Melanie Schimek, University of Delaware (United States)

Although many studies of active layer development address spatial variations in soil thermal properties and moisture conditions, few have attempted to isolate topoclimatic influences on active-layer thickness. Observed patterns of thaw depth on various facets of an anthropogenic thermokarst landform near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska show systematic variation with slope orientation. This study demonstrates that aspect has a strong control on active-layer thickness, even at 70oN latitude, with south-facing slopes thawing to greater depth than north-facing slopes and northern exposure compensating even for the absence of an insulating layer of vegetation.