A preliminary synoptic assessment of soil frost on Marion Island and the possible consequences of climate change in a maritime sub-Antarctic environment

Polar research

Werner Nel¹ 

[1] Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Fort HareAlice, 5700, South Africa Correspondence

关键词: Marion Island;    climate change;    synoptic weather;    soil frost;    sub-Antarctic;    air mass circulation;   

DOI  :  10.3402/polar.v31i0.17626

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Co-Action Publishing

【 摘 要 】

Located in the sub-Antarctic, Marion Island (46° 54′ S, 37° 45′ E) has a distinct periglacial environment that is sensitive to climate change. Diurnal soil frost is the most important geomorphic process occurring on the island and this paper aims to understand the synoptic weather circulation pattern associated with summer soil frost occurrence in a sub-Antarctic environment. Preliminary results from automated microclimate measurements in the interior of Marion Island show that summer soil frost is dependent on Antarctic air mass circulation. This occurs exclusively during post-cyclonic airflow after the passage of a cold front connected to a mid-latitudinal cyclone and subsequent ridging in of the South Atlantic Anticyclone behind the cold front, or when a series of low pressure systems passes over the island. The duration and intensity of soil frost cycles are dependent on the duration of post-cyclonic Antarctic air mass circulation. Summer soil frost on Marion Island is driven by a complex interaction ...

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC