Paleolimnology of thermokarst lakes: a window into permafrost landscape evolution

Arctic Science

article

Frédéric Bouchard¹  Lauren A. MacDonald³  Kevin W. Turner⁴  Joshua R. Thienpont⁵  Andrew S. Medeiros⁶  Boris K. Biskaborn⁷  Jennifer Korosi⁵  Roland I. Hall³  Reinhard Pienitz¹  Brent B. Wolfe⁹ 

[1] Centre d’études nordiques (CEN), Université Laval;Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS);Department of Biology, University of Waterloo;Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, Brock University;Department of Biology, University of Ottawa;Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, York University;Department of Periglacial Research, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI);Department of Geography, York University;Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University

关键词: thermokarst lakes;    permafrost;    paleolimnology;    lake sediments;   

DOI  :  10.1139/as-2016-0022

学科分类：地球科学(综合)

来源: NRC Research Press

【 摘 要 】

Widespread across northern permafrost landscapes, thermokarst ponds and lakes provide vital wildlife habitat and play a key role in biogeochemical processes. Stored in the sediments of these typically shallow and dynamic waterbodies are rich sources of paleoenvironmental information whose potential has not yet been fully exploited, likely because of concerns over stratigraphic preservation and challenges to develop reliable sediment core chronologies. Here, we present an overview of recently derived informative paleolimnological reconstructions based on multiparameter analysis of sediment archives from permafrost aquatic basins. We include examples from across the Canadian North, Alaska, and Siberia that illustrate their value for providing insights into temporal patterns of lake inception, catchment erosion, aquatic productivity, hydrological evolution, and landscape disturbances. Although not captured in our survey, emerging research directions focused on carbon accumulation, storage, and balance hold much promise for contributing to global climate change science.

【 授权许可】

CC BY