Soil geomorphology and frozen ground conditions at a subalpine talus slope having permafrost in the eastern Swiss Alps

Kneisel, Christof; Emmert, Adrian; Polich, Pascale; Zollinger, Barbara; Egli, Markus

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2015.05.005

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Ground surface temperatures were measured in the Val Bever area (Table ; three replicates in permafrost and non‐permafrost soils; in total six sites). Additionally, borehole temperatures were available for the Spinas area (Kneisel et al ., ). In the Val Bever and Spinas area, the volumetric water content was measured using a time‐domain reflectometer (TDR) in the immediate radius of the plot (in July 2013; Table ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… *Mean borehole temperatures (close to these sites; Kneisel et a l., ): surface +0.46 °C, 1 m − 0.88 °C, 2 m − 1.00 °C, 3 m − 0.85 °C, 5 m − 0.57 °C, 7 m − 0.33 °C, 8 m − 0.21 °C…”

Section: Investigation Areaunclassified

“…(at present the timberline is between 2200 m and 2300 m a.s.l.) and represents one of the special places at low altitudes where isolated permafrost lenses could be confirmed by geophysical techniques and borehole drilling at lower altitudes (Kneisel et al ., , ). The active layer thickness usually ranged from 2 to 3 m. Mean annual air temperature is 1 °C and the mean annual precipitation is 1050 mm (Böhlert et al ., ).…”

Section: Investigation Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil formation and weathering in a permafrost environment of the Swiss Alps: a multi‐parameter and non‐steady‐state approach

Zollinger

Alewell

Kneisel

et al. 2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Spatially discontinuous permafrost conditions frequently occur in the European Alps. How soils under such conditions have evolved and how they may react to climate warming is largely unknown. This study focuses on the comparison of nearby soils that are characterised by the presence or absence of permafrost (active‐layer thickness: 2–3 m) in the alpine (tundra) and subalpine (forest) range of the Eastern Swiss Alps using a multi‐method (geochemical and mineralogical) approach. Moreover, a new non‐steady‐state concept was applied to determine rates of chemical weathering, soil erosion, soil formation, soil denudation, and soil production. Long‐term chemical weathering rates, soil formation and erosion rates were assessed by using immobile elements, fine‐earth stocks and meteoric 10Be. In addition, the weathering index (K + Ca)/Ti, the amount of Fe‐ and Al‐oxyhydroxides and clay minerals characteristics were considered. All methods indicated that the differences between permafrost‐affected and non‐permafrost‐affected soils were small. Furthermore, the soils did not uniformly differ in their weathering behaviour. A tendency towards less intense weathering in soils that were affected by permafrost was noted: at most sites, weathering rates, the proportion of oxyhydroxides and the weathering stage of clay minerals were lower in permafrost soils. In part, erosion rates were higher at the permafrost sites and accounted for 79–97% of the denudation rates. In general, soil formation rates (8.8–86.7 t/km2/yr) were in the expected range for Alpine soils. Independent of permafrost conditions, it seems that the local microenvironment (particularly vegetation and subsequently soil organic matter) has strongly influenced denudation rates. As the climate has varied since the beginning of soil evolution, the conditions for soil formation and weathering were not stable over time. Soil evolution in high Alpine settings is complex owing to, among others, spatio‐temporal variations of permafrost conditions and thus climate. This makes predictions of future behaviour very difficult. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Investigation Areaunclassified

Section: Investigation Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil formation and weathering in a permafrost environment of the Swiss Alps: a multi‐parameter and non‐steady‐state approach

Zollinger

Alewell

Kneisel

et al. 2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…After N.A. Tsytovich [15], the Poisson ratio of frozen rocks has weak temperature-moisture dependence and can be taken as constant in calculation for rocks of various degrees of dispersion. Thus, it can be taken in the range of 0.2-0.22 for frozen sand, and for clays its mean value is approximately 0.37.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Enclosed Space Configuration and Freezing Medium Volume on Refreezing Pressure

et al. 2016

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Abstract. In building underground structures (bases and foundations of residential and industrial buildings, boreholes for hydrocarbon extraction, etc.) in cryolithic zones, cavities of various shapes and sizes saturated with liquid media often develop. When they refreeze, the refreezing pressure occurs; this may result in failure of the structural member continuity, and further failure of the structure as it is. The paper describes the calculation techniques for the refreezing pressure depending on cavity shapes and sizes.

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“…Los elementos incluidos están a la orden del suelo (Kneisel et al, 2015), la profundidad del suelo relevantes para el crecimiento de la planta, la vegetación, la topografía, la hidrología del suelo y la forma del terreno. Para determinar la textura y granulometría del suelo se usó el método de análisis del densímetro de Bouyoucos (Porta et al, 2003).…”

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Evaluación de la erosión física y química del suelo en la zona nor-occidental de la provincia Bolívar-Ecuador

Gavilánez

González

et al. 2018

Rev. Ecuad. de Investig. Agropecu.

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ResumenSe realizó la evaluación de la erosión física y química del suelo en la zona nor -occidental de la provincia Bolívar-Ecuador, en las comunidades El Carbón, Culebrillas y Los Casaiches. Por su topografía se dividió cada localidad, en parte superior, media e inferior; para el análisis descriptivo-comparativo y dinámica de erosión en los perfiles A, B y C. Las variables físicas evaluadas fueron: procesos erosivos gravitacionales y denudativa, la morfogenética y textura del suelo; y las químicas pH y materia orgánica. El análisis de textura mostró heterogeneidad a distintas profundidades por comunidad: los Casaiches (15,66 %) suelo arenoso a profundidades de (0 -10 cm), con crecimiento hasta profundidades de 30 cm (19,91 %) y decreciendo hasta los 50 cm (15,18%); la textura arenosa en El carbón y Culebrillas desciende a profundidad de 50 cm. Culebrillas presentó en todos los niveles contenidos de limo (14,14 % a 18,15%) superiores a las del Carbón y los Casaiches. El contenido de arcilla presentó similitudes a profundidad de 0-10 cm (37,12 %), creciendo a medida que se incrementó la profundidad; El Carbón mostro el mayor contenido de arcilla con 52,27%. Los parámetros químicos indicaron suelos ligeramente ácidos, pH entre 5,60 y 6,45 e incrementos de materia orgánica en los horizontes eluviales. Los resultados reportaron que la erosión antrópica es el principal factor de degradación de los suelos (a profundidades de 0 -30 cm) en la zona, generando cambios profundos en la topografía, biota y sobre las propiedades físicas y químicas del suelo. Palabras claves: Proceso erosivo gravitacional, Textura del suelo, Evaluación fisicoquímica, Topografía AbstractEvaluation of physical and chemical soil erosion took place in the north-western zone of the province of bolivarEcuador, communities Coal, Culebrillas and Los Casaiches. By its topography each locality was divided into upper, middle and bottom; for descriptive-comparative and dynamic erosion profiles A, B and C. The physical variables were evaluated analysis: Gravitational and denudativa erosional processes, morphogenetic and soil texture; and chemical pH and organic matter. Texture analysis showed heterogeneity by various depths community: Casaiches (15.66%) sandy soil depths (0-10 cm), with growth to depths of 30 cm (19.91%) and decreasing to 50 cm (15.18%); sandy texture Coal and Culebrillas down to depth of 50 cm. Culebrillas provided at all levels of silt content (14.14% to 18.15%) higher than Coal and Casaiches. Clay content presented similarities 0-depth of 10 cm (37.12%), growing as the depth increased; Coal showed the higher clay content with 52.27%. The chemical parameters indicated slightly acidic soil pH between 5.60 and 6.45 and increases organic matter in the eluvial horizons. The results reported anthropic erosion is the main factor of degradation (to depths of 0-30 cm) in the area, generating profound changes in topography, biota and the physical and chemical properties of soil.

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Soil geomorphology and frozen ground conditions at a subalpine talus slope having permafrost in the eastern Swiss Alps

Cited by 17 publications

References 35 publications

Soil formation and weathering in a permafrost environment of the Swiss Alps: a multi‐parameter and non‐steady‐state approach

Soil formation and weathering in a permafrost environment of the Swiss Alps: a multi‐parameter and non‐steady‐state approach

Effect of Enclosed Space Configuration and Freezing Medium Volume on Refreezing Pressure

Evaluación de la erosión física y química del suelo en la zona nor-occidental de la provincia Bolívar-Ecuador

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