Collaborative Research: Effects of Aggradation and Degradation of Ground Ice on the Evolution of Permafrost-Dominated Landscapes Under a Changing Climate

提供资金研究冰的沉积和退化对地形演变的影响：（1）在阿拉斯加北极和亚北极的10个主要研究地点调查活动层、上部永久冻土和生态系统其他组成部分的重要相互作用，（2）评价永久冻土退化的模式，因为它们与地面冰结构有关，（3）量化变化，根据大量（约500个）系统分布的采样点的热岩溶的光解译，阿拉斯加北方和中部多年冻土退化的程度和速度，（4）将这些变化与当地气候地热历史联系起来，以及（5）将这些信息整合到概念模型中，以永冻层为主的景观将如何响应气候变暖而演变。实现这些目标的关键将是认识到永久冻土层的中间层是北极生态系统的一个组成部分，更好地了解地表和永久冻土层之间的联系对于可靠地预测永久冻土层地形今后的演变是必要的。社会基础设施，如道路、建筑地基、管道。 这些地区进一步发展的战略规划需要了解永久冻土的演变，如本项目旨在提供。

Funds are provided to study the effects of ice aggradation and degradation on terrain evolution by: (1) investigating the crucial interactions of the active layer, upper permafrost and other components of ecosystems at 10 primary study sites in arctic and subarctic Alaska, (2) evaluating the modes of permafrost degradation as they relate to ground ice structures, (3) quantifying the variety, extent and rate of permafrost degradation across northern and central Alaska based on photointepretation of thermokarst at a large number (~500) of systematically distributed sampling points, (4) relating these changes to the local climatic geothermal histories, and (5) integrating this information into conceptual models of how permafrost-dominated landscapes will evolve in response to climate warming. Key to accomplishing these objectives will be the recognition of the intermediate layer of permafrost as an integral part of arctic ecosystems and that better knowledge of the linkage between the surface and permafrost is necessary for reliable prediction of how permafrost terrain will evolve in the future.The observed rapid warming of many regions of the Arctic is resulting in similarly rapid changes in the permafrost with dramatic negative consequences for societal infrastructure, e.g. roads, building foundations, pipelines. Strategic planning for the further development of these regions requires an understanding of permafrost evolution such as this project is designed to provide.