Ice wedges_Accepted version.pdf (502.92 kB)
Ice wedges as archives of winter palaeoclimate: a review
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 14:18 authored by Thomas Opel, Hanno Meyer, Sebastian Wetterich, Thomas Laepple, Alexander Dereviagin, Julian MurtonJulian MurtonIce wedges are a characteristic feature of northern permafrost landscapes and grow mainly by snowmelt that refreezes in thermal contraction cracks that open in winter. In high latitudes the stable-isotope composition of precipitation (d18O and dD) is sensitive to air temperature. Hence, the integrated climate information of winter precipitation is transferred to individual ice veins and can be preserved over millennia, allowing ice wedges to be used to reconstruct past winter climate. Recent studies indicate a promising potential of ice-wedge-based paleoclimate reconstructions for more comprehensive reconstructions of Arctic past climate evolution. We briefly highlight the potential and review the current state of ice-wedge paleoclimatology. Existing knowledge gaps and challenges are outlined and priorities for future ice-wedge research are suggested. The major research topics are (1) frost cracking and infilling dynamics, (2) formation and preservation of the stable-isotope information, (3) ice-wedge dating, (4) age-model development and (5) interpretation of stable-isotope time series. Progress in each of these topics will help to exploit the paleoclimatic potential of ice wedges, particularly in view of their unique cold-season information, which is not adequately covered by other terrestrial climate archives.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Permafrost and Periglacial ProcessesISSN
1045-6740Publisher
WileyExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
29Page range
199-209Department affiliated with
- Geography Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-07-31First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-07-15First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-07-30Usage metrics
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