Time‐Lapse Imaging in Polar Environments

Abstract

Although the drivers of climate change and its consequences in polar regions are becoming better understood [Holland and Bitz, 2003] and well monitored [Serreze et al., 2002; Doran et al., 2002b], measuring the responses of polar landscapes to changing climate boundary conditions is challenging: Polar landscapes typically respond slowly to warming but abruptly to melting [Gooseff et al., 2011].

Thermal properties of Antarctic soils: wetting controls subsurface thermal state

“…This thermal response to wetting is consistent with the potential for long-term preservation of buried ice under dry conditions (low to moderate thermal diffusivity), but indicates that the soils can become efficient thermal conductors and potentially drive rapid melting and landscape change when the soils are wetted. This is precisely the soil moisture scenario occurring in central Garwood Valley, where exposure of buried ice is resulting in wetting of overlying sediments and rapid thermokarst erosion of remnant Ross Sea Drift ice-cored till at rates up to approximately ten times the average Holocene rate (Levy et al 2013b, Dickson et al 2015. This mixed potential for ground ice preservation by tills of intermediate thermal diffusivity is similar to that observed in western Taylor Valley/Pearse Valley, where Bonney Till (similar texturally to our sample 010315-1) has preserved ice-cored moraines from alpine glaciers for up to 130 ka (Swanger et al 2010).…”

“…2013b, Dickson et al . 2015). This mixed potential for ground ice preservation by tills of intermediate thermal diffusivity is similar to that observed in western Taylor Valley/Pearse Valley, where Bonney Till (similar texturally to our sample 010315-1) has preserved ice-cored moraines from alpine glaciers for up to 130 ka (Swanger et al .…”

Daily and seasonal processes shape hydrological activity and detectability of moisture in Antarctic, Mars-analog soils

“…Images were acquired from 10 Jan 2012 through 28 Jan 2012 (1717 total images), from 13 Dec 2012 through 9 Jan 2013 (2592 total images), and from 4 Jan 2015 through 3 Feb 2015 (2878 total images). Images were automatically synchronized with meteorological measurements to allow instantaneous direct comparisons between meteorological forcing and any observable surface response (Dickson et al, 2014).…”