Modeling sub-sea permafrost in the East Siberian Arctic Shelf: The Laptev Sea region

  1. D. J. Nicolsky1,*,
  2. V. E. Romanovsky1,2,
  3. N. N. Romanovskii3,
  4. A. L. Kholodov1,
  5. N. E. Shakhova4,
  6. I. P. Semiletov4

Article first published online: 18 SEP 2012

DOI: 10.1029/2012JF002358

Issue

Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface (2003–2012)

Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface (2003–2012)

Additional Information

How to Cite

Nicolsky, D. J., V. E. Romanovsky, N. N. Romanovskii, A. L. Kholodov, N. E. Shakhova, and I. P. Semiletov (2012), Modeling sub-sea permafrost in the East Siberian Arctic Shelf: The Laptev Sea region, J. Geophys. Res., 117, F03028, doi:10.1029/2012JF002358.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

  2. 2

    Also at Earth Cryosphere Institute, Tyumen, Russia

  3. 3

    Geocryology Department, Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

  4. 4

    International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

*Corresponding author: D. J. Nicolsky, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Dr., Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320, USA. (djnicolsky@alaska.edu)

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 SEP 2012
  2. Article first published online: 18 SEP 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 30 JUL 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 10 JUL 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 24 JAN 2012

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Keywords:

  • numerical modeling;
  • open taliks;
  • sub-sea permafrost

[1] Models of sub-sea permafrost evolution vary significantly in employed physical assumptions regarding the paleo-geographic scenario, geological structure, thermal properties, initial temperature distribution, and geothermal heat flux. This work aims to review the underlying assumptions of these models as well as to incorporate recent findings, and hence develop an up-to-date model of the sub-sea permafrost dynamics at the Laptev Sea shelf. In particular, the sub-sea permafrost model developed here incorporates thermokarst and land-ocean interaction theory, and shows that the sediment salinity and a temperature-based parametrization of the unfrozen water content are critical factors influencing sub-sea permafrost dynamics. From the numerical calculations, we suggest development of open taliks may occur beneath submerged thaw lakes within a large area of the shelf.

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