Multiple thermo-erosional episodes during the past six millennia: Implications for the response of Arctic permafrost to climate change

Research Article| June 01, 2016 Multiple thermo-erosional episodes during the past six millennia: Implications for the response of Arctic permafrost to climate change Melissa L. Chipman; Melissa L. Chipman 1Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S. Goodwin, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar George W. Kling; George W. Kling 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Craig C. Lundstrom; Craig C. Lundstrom 3Department of Geology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Feng Sheng Hu Feng Sheng Hu * 1Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S. Goodwin, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA3Department of Geology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA4Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA *E-mail: fshu@life.illinois.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Melissa L. Chipman 1Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S. Goodwin, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA George W. Kling 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA Craig C. Lundstrom 3Department of Geology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Feng Sheng Hu * 1Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S. Goodwin, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA3Department of Geology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA4Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA *E-mail: fshu@life.illinois.edu Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 16 Jan 2016 Revision Received: 09 Apr 2016 Accepted: 13 Apr 2016 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 © 2016 Geological Society of America Geology (2016) 44 (6): 439–442. https://doi.org/10.1130/G37693.1 Article history Received: 16 Jan 2016 Revision Received: 09 Apr 2016 Accepted: 13 Apr 2016 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Melissa L. Chipman, George W. Kling, Craig C. Lundstrom, Feng Sheng Hu; Multiple thermo-erosional episodes during the past six millennia: Implications for the response of Arctic permafrost to climate change. Geology 2016;; 44 (6): 439–442. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G37693.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Anthropogenic warming may promote rapid permafrost thaw in the Arctic and alter the global carbon cycle. Although several studies suggest increased thermo-erosion as a result of recent warming, a long-term context is necessary to assess the linkages of thermokarst processes with climate variability. We analyzed sediment cores from two lakes on the Alaskan North Slope (USA), one with (Lake NE14) and one without (Perch Lake) watershed thermo-erosion. Distinct geochemical and lithological characteristics provide evidence for sedimentary input from carbonate-rich permafrost soils associated with past retrogressive thaw slumping at Lake NE14 but not at Perch Lake. These characteristics include increases in Ca:Sr, Ca:K, carbonate:[feldspar + clay minerals], percent CaCO3, and δ13C, and decreases in 87Sr:86Sr. At least ten episodes of thermo-erosion occurred over the past 6000 yr at Lake NE14. Most of these episodes coincided with periods of elevated summer temperatures, but moisture variation and geomorphic factors likely played a role in driving their occurrence. Our results suggest that positive feedbacks facilitate reactivation of thermo-erosion in ice-rich terrain, adding to the growing body of evidence that these Arctic landscapes are unstable in a changing climate. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.