Geomorphological and cryostratigraphical analyses of the Zackenberg Valley, NE Greenland and significance of Holocene alluvial fans

Cable, Stefanie; Christiansen, Hanne H.; Westergaard‐Nielsen, Andreas; Kroon, Aart; Elberling, Bo

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.11.003

Cited by 41 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…The hillslopes in the Zackenberg area have scarce vegetation cover (Elberling et al, 2008), low stream channel stability (Docherty, Riis, Milner, et al, ), and widespread solifluction areas (Cable et al, 2018). Thus, the higher mineral weathering, high erosion, and low N demand of plants at the hillslopes can lead to higher runoff of solutes and nutrients to headwater streams.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Location of the Zackenberg study area in Greenland and the A, B, and C sampled reaches Grænseelv and Kærelv streams. Geomorphological map obtained from Cable et al, 2017 supplement to Cable et al, 2018.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geomorphological analyses of the watersheds drained at each sampling site. The category “Others” includes fluvial and unclassified areas from the original classification (data derived from Cable et al, 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We selected six stream locations subjected to a gradient in the areal contribution of different geomorphological units in the watersheds, thus potentially covering a wide range of stream hydrochemical characteristics and stream nutrient concentrations (Docherty, Riis, Milner, et al, 2018). The study was carried out in Zackenberg valley, which represents one of the most well‐studied areas on the periglacial coast of NE Greenland with a recent field‐validated geomorphological map available (Cable et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geomorphological analyses of the watersheds drained at each sampling site. The category "Others" includes fluvial and unclassified areas from the original classification (data derived fromCable et al, 2018). preashed GF/F filters (Whatman, UK) and samples for NO 3 − , NH 4 + , and SRP analyses onto Supor filters (0.22 μm; Supor 200 PES, Pall Corporation, Port Washington, New York, USA). For preservation, samples for DOC were acidified using 10% HCl to pH = 2-3, whereas samples for NO 3…”

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Biofilm Growth in Two Streams Draining Mountainous Permafrost Catchments in NE Greenland

2020

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The objective of this study was to evaluate how stream water nutrient concentrations influence biofilm accrual in streams draining mountainous permafrost headwaters. We selected six stream locations in the Zackenberg area (NE Greenland, 74°N) subjected to a gradient in the areal contribution of different geomorphological units in the watersheds and channel stability. We used nutrient diffusing substrates to evaluate biofilm growth (autotrophic and total biomass). We found elevated stream nitrate concentrations in samples from upstream reaches draining larger areas of solifluction sheets and bare rock and with higher channel instability. Nitrate had the highest standardized effect on autotrophic biofilm growth on control disks. However, stream biofilm growth was not nutrient limited as shown by the absence of an increase in biofilm biomass as a response to the experimental nutrient additions. The response to nutrient additions via diffusing substrates depended on the altitude gradient. Overall, our results showed stream nitrogen availability to be one of the main drivers of algal biofilm accrual in high‐Arctic streams, suggesting that the predicted changes in nutrient exports induced by climate change will have strong impacts on the biogeochemistry and ecological functioning of high‐Arctic streams.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

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Biofilm Growth in Two Streams Draining Mountainous Permafrost Catchments in NE Greenland

2020

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Controls on stream hydrochemistry dynamics in a high Arctic snow‐covered watershed

Docherty

Riis

Milner

et al. 2018

Hydrological Processes

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Arctic streams are highly sensitive to climate change due to warmer air temperature and increased precipitation associated with an encroaching low Arctic climatic zone into currently high-Arctic coastal areas. Increases in nivation processes and permafrost degradation will lead to potential changes in stream physicochemical habitat, although these impacts are poorly understood. To address this gap, physicochemical habitat characteristics in streams around Zackenberg in Northeast Greenland National Park were investigated during the summers of 2013 to 2016. Streams with different sized snowpacks represented both low and high snowfall conditions leading to different nivation processes. Streams with larger snowpacks displayed lower channel stability, with higher channel mobility, suspended sediment and solute concentrations.Suspended sediment concentration was identified as a key driver of stream solute concentrations, and varying snowpack levels caused high interannual variability in solute concentrations. Winter snowpack size was confirmed to be an important driver of stream physicochemical habitat in an Arctic region with low glacial cover. We predict climate change will strongly impact stream hydrochemistry in this region through increased nivation processes alongside active layer thickening and solifluction, thereby increasing stream suspended sediment and solute concentrations. These findings indicate that hydrochemistry was principally a function of erosion, with variation being determined by spatial and temporal patterns in erosional processes, and as such, alternative methods to fingerprint water sources should be considered in this region.

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Geomorphology and vegetation drive hydrochemistry changes in two Northeast Greenland streams

Pastor

Skovsholt

Christoffersen

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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Climate change is causing drastic landscape changes in the Arctic, but how these changes modify stream biogeochemistry is not clear yet. We examined how catchment properties influence stream nitrogen (N) and dissolved organic carbon concentrations (DOC) in a high-Arctic environment. We sampled two contrasting headwater streams (10-15 stations over 4.8 and 6.8 km, respectively) in Northeast Greenland (74 N). We characterized the geomorphology (i.e., bedrock, solifluction and alluvial types) and the vegetation (i.e., barren, fell field, grassland and tundra types) cover of each subcatchment area draining into each sampling station and collected water samples for hydrochemistry characterization. The two sampled streams differed in geomorphology and vegetation cover in the catchment. Aucellaelv catchment was mostly covered by a 'bedrock' geomorphology (71%) and 'fellfield' vegetation (51%), whereas Kaeerelv was mostly covered by 'alluvial' geomorphology (65%) and 'grassland' and 'tundra' vegetation (42% and 41% respectively). Hydrochemistry also differed between the two study streams, with higher concentrations of inorganic N forms in Aucellaelv and lower DOC concentrations, compared to Kaerelv. The results from the linear mixed model selection showed that vegetation and geomorphology had contrasting effects on stream hydrochemistry. Subcatchments with higher solifluction sheets and limited vegetation had higher nitrate concentrations but lower DOC concentrations. Interestingly, we also found high variability on the production and removal of nitrate across subcatchments. These results indicate landscape controls to nutrient and organic matter exports via flow paths, soil organic matter stocks and nutrient retention via terrestrial vegetation. Moreover, the results suggest that climate change induced alterations to vegetation cover and soil physical disturbance in high-Arctic catchments will affect stream hydrochemistry, with potential effects in stream productivity, trophic relations as well as change of solute export to downstream coastal areas.

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Geomorphological and cryostratigraphical analyses of the Zackenberg Valley, NE Greenland and significance of Holocene alluvial fans

Cited by 41 publications

References 93 publications

Biofilm Growth in Two Streams Draining Mountainous Permafrost Catchments in NE Greenland

Biofilm Growth in Two Streams Draining Mountainous Permafrost Catchments in NE Greenland

Controls on stream hydrochemistry dynamics in a high Arctic snow‐covered watershed

Geomorphology and vegetation drive hydrochemistry changes in two Northeast Greenland streams

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