Near‐surface temperatures and potential for frost weathering in blockfields in Norway and Svalbard. Issue 5 (9th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peter, Maria; Andersen, Jane Lund; Nixon, Francis Chantel; Etzelmüller, Bernd; Westermann, Sebastian; Fredin, Ola
• Is Part Of: Earth surface processes and landforms. Volume 48:Issue 5(2023)
• Page Start: 940
• Page End: 955
• Publication Date: 2023-02-09
• Subjects: blockfields -- frost‐cracking -- landscape evolution -- periglacial erosion -- thermal modelling; Geomorphology -- Periodicals; 551.4
• DOI: 10.1002/esp.5528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-9337

Abstract

Abstract: Blockfields remain enigmatic regarding their origin, internal structure, surface processes, and glaciological implications. In Scandinavia, blockfields are found on high‐elevation, low‐relief mountains (plateaus) across the Arctic and Subarctic. In this study, we present a 1D numerical model that uses near‐surface temperatures measured between summer 2018 and summer 2020 to calculate frost‐cracking intensities (FCI) within the ground column in three different blockfields in Norway and Svalbard. Eighty‐nine miniature temperature loggers were distributed on Tron Mountain (1650 m a.s.l.) in Alvdal, Gamlemsveten (780 m a.s.l.) near Ålesund in southwestern Norway and on Platåberget (460 m a.s.l.) near Longyearbyen, Svalbard. We modelled FCI by scaling the time spent in the frost cracking window (between −3 and −8°C) with the temperature gradient and a penalty function for distance to available water. At Tron and Gamlemsveten, ground temperatures never reached the frost cracking window at one third of our sites due to insulation by a thick snow cover in depressions and on the lee sides of summits. The highest FCI (0.05–0.4 K m) are obtained where the subsurface consists of boulders and stones in a matrix of relatively fine sediment (sand, silt, gravel). In contrast, very low FCI (0.003–0.02 K m) were modelled for blocky layers with large air‐filled pores because of the low water availability. On Platåberget, all sensors reached the frost‐cracking window during the annual temperature cycle, but FCI are extremely low (0.0004–0.15 K m) as water availability is limited due to (i) permafrost and (ii) near‐surface temperatures remaining below the frost‐cracking window for 3/4 of the year. This indicates that boulder‐rich blockfields with air‐filled hollows are preserved in very cold climates, whereas warmer, maritime settings with higher availability of fine interstitial material place blockfields in the fast lane for frost weathering. Abstract : Our study focuses on frost‐cracking activity in blockfields in Scandinavia and Svalbard, using measured near‐surface temperatures to model first the subsurface thermal regime and then frost‐cracking intensities. The simulated frost‐cracking intensities provide insights into the processes governing weathering in blockfields and deliver constraints on the age and formation of the blockfield landform.