Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5.2 Idealized permafrost cross section
In addition to above, permafrost is structurally important, and its melting has
been known to cause erosion, disappearance of lakes, landslides, and ground
subsidence. It will also cause changes in plant species composition at high latitudes.
Thawing permafrost has signi
cant effects on surface and subsurface regimes,
including those governing hydrology and energy and moisture balance. Ecosystem
diversity, composition, and productivity are not only impacted by increasing air
temperatures, but by the associated effects of increasing ground temperatures as
well. Because of this, thawing permafrost has signi
cant impacts on infrastructure
and ecosystems. Where ground ice contents are comparatively high, permafrost
degradation can have signi
cant impacts (Turetsky et al. 2007).
The international IPAB programme of observations using the instruments
mounted on sea buoys in the SH oceans started really in 1995 under aegis of
WCRP, and deserves further support. IPAB is a self-sustaining project of the
WCRP, and provides a link between institutions with Antarctic and Southern Ocean
interests. IPAB was formally established, following a 1 year pilot phase, at a
meeting in Helsinki, Finland in June 1994. IPAB aims to establish and maintain a
network of drifting buoys in the Antarctic sea-ice zone, which monitor ice motion,
pressure and temperature. The IPAB Antarctic Drifting Buoy Data archive, pres-
ently spanning the years 1995
1998, includes measurements of buoy position,
atmospheric pressure, air temperature, and sea surface temperature. Data are
organized by daily and 3-h averages and the raw, instantaneous, non-interpolated
data values. Data were collected from buoys initially deployed in three study
-
Search WWH ::
Custom Search